Compare towns

Washington vs Exeter vs Topsham vs Danby

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Danby has the most expensive homes ($272k 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.

MeasureWashingtonExeterTopshamDanby
People
Population
1,056
913Lowest
999
1,133Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52.9±5.1Highest
36% above U.S.
51.7±12.6
33% above U.S.
50.1±5.9Lowest
29% above U.S.
52.6±4.8
35% above U.S.
Washington and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.5%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.3%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±10.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.7%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Washington and Danby 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
18% below U.S.
$77,550±$19kHighest
4% below U.S.
$72,308±$60k
10% below U.S.
$77,321±$13k
4% below U.S.
Exeter and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$217,700±$37kLowest
35% below U.S.
$243,000±$89k
27% below U.S.
$222,900±$56k
33% below U.S.
$272,400±$41kHighest
18% below U.S.
Danby and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$996±$285Highest
30% below U.S.
$867±$44
39% below U.S.
$908±$398
36% below U.S.
$794±$166Lowest
44% below U.S.
Washington and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,485
12% above U.S.
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
$4,006
28% above U.S.
$4,543Highest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.5%±63.6
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
91.9%±28.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.4%±34.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Topsham and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
16% above U.S.
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
14.9%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Washington and Exeter 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 — Waits River Union High District #36 Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
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 None yet

U.S. 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.