Compare towns
Topsham vs Washington vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Washington | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999Lowest |
1,056 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
| Washington and Topsham 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% |
16.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Washington and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Washington 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 |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston 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±$56k 30% below VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
$996±$285 19% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,006 21% below VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Williston 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% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Waits River Union High District #36 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.