What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Topsham	Worcester
People
Population	999Highest	831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT	47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT
	Topsham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9%	12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Topsham and Worcester 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%	19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Topsham and Worcester 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%	53%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%	6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7%
	Worcester and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT	$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below VT
	Worcester 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	$271,100±$27kHighest 14% below VT
	Worcester 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	$1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT
	Worcester and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,006Lowest 21% below VT	$4,421Highest 12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4%	25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	18.8%Highest VT: 10.1%	5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT	1976Lowest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 49% above VT	29 minLowest 22% above VT
Work from home	14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9%	23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9%
	Worcester 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	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.