Compare towns
Washington vs Arlington vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.
| Measure | Washington | Arlington | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056 |
2,598Highest |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
| Washington and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Washington and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Arlington and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
| Arlington and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$222,900±$56k 30% below VT |
| Arlington and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285 19% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
| Arlington and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,549Highest 10% below VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #50 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Arlington School District | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.