Compare towns
Washington vs Bakersfield 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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Bakersfield has the most expensive homes ($271k median).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Bakersfield | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056 |
1,109Highest |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
46.4±8Lowest 8% above 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham and Washington 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% |
21.2%±3.9Lowest 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% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield 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 |
$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
| Bakersfield 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 |
$271,300±$19kHighest 14% below VT |
$222,900±$56k 30% below VT |
| Bakersfield 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 |
$1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
$908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
| Bakersfield 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 |
$3,823 24% below VT |
$4,006Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Washington 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 31% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Washington and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.