Compare towns
Walden vs Dover vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has the highest household income ($88k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Topsham has the most kids (18% 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 | Walden | Dover | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037 |
1,466Highest |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Lowest 13% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
| Dover and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% 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 | $238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136 27% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$908±$398Highest 26% 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 | $3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| 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.