Compare towns
Topsham vs Walden vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Topsham | Walden | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999Lowest |
1,037 |
1,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Walden and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Walden and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$262,300±$30kHighest 17% below VT |
| Whitingham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$398Highest 26% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,006 21% below VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 49% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Waits River Union High District #36 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.