Compare towns
Washington vs Braintree 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 most homeowners (94.4%).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Braintree | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056Highest |
1,026 |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1 23% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
50.1±5.9Lowest 16% above VT |
| Braintree and Washington 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% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest 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%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Washington and Braintree 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 |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
| Braintree 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 |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$222,900±$56kHighest 30% below VT |
| Topsham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Highest 19% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
| Washington and Topsham 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 |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$4,006Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Braintree 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Washington 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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.