Compare towns

Walden vs Springfield 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 people working from home (21.4%).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Topsham has the oldest population (median age 50.1).

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.

MeasureWaldenSpringfieldTopsham
People
Population
1,037
9,084Highest
999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+2.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.8±3.2
13% above VT
43.2±3.7Lowest
about the VT average
50.1±5.9Highest
16% above VT
Topsham and Walden 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%
18.6%±3.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
18%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
Springfield 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%
23.6%±3.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±4.8
VT: 21.4%
Springfield 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%
VT: 43.8%
23.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
28.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.4
VT: 7%
1.7%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Walden and Springfield 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
$66,571±$13kLowest
18% 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±$23kHighest
25% below VT
$192,400±$20kLowest
39% below VT
$222,900±$56k
30% below VT
Walden and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$900±$136Lowest
27% below VT
$963±$100Highest
22% below VT
$908±$398
26% below VT
Springfield and Topsham 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
$4,807Highest
5% below VT
$4,006
21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.3%±86.8
VT: 48.4%
49.6%±15.6Lowest
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%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.8%
VT: 10.1%
18.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
67.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.3%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1958Lowest
18 yrs older than VT
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
10% above VT
27 min
16% above VT
35 minHighest
49% above VT
Work from home
21.4%±6.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
15.1%±5.5
VT: 16.9%
14.2%±5.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Walden and Springfield 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 — #64 of 70 in VT —
School district Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District Waits River Union High District #36
High school in town None in town Springfield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.3
—
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.