Compare towns
Walden vs Dummerston vs Berlin 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 most homeowners (93.8%).
Dummerston has the most expensive homes ($335k median).
Berlin has the most renters (12.1% rent).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
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 | Dummerston | Berlin | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
2,090 |
2,880Highest |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
| Berlin and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Topsham 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Walden and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
| Dummerston and Walden 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
| Dummerston and Berlin 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 |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Walden 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 | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.