Compare towns
Topsham vs Williamstown 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 the most people working from home (14.2%).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Williamstown | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999 |
3,579Highest |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
| Orange 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% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown 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±$60k 11% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Williamstown 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 |
$234,900±$24kHighest 26% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
| Williamstown and Topsham 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 |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,330±$153 8% above VT |
| Williamstown and Orange 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 |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Williamstown 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Topsham and Williamstown 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 | — | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Waits River Union High District #36 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.