Compare towns
Topsham vs Wheelock vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Orange has the most renters (12.2% rent).
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 | Wheelock | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999Highest |
717Lowest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9Lowest 16% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
| Wheelock and Orange 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% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock 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% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Wheelock and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,308±$60kHighest 11% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
| Topsham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,900±$56kHighest 30% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
| Topsham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
— | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Orange and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,006Highest 21% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Wheelock 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock 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 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.