Compare towns
Washington vs Halifax 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).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Topsham has the highest household income ($72k).
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 | Halifax | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056Highest |
847Lowest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax 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% |
22.6%±7.2Lowest 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% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Washington and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8k 19% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$72,308±$60kHighest 11% below VT |
| Topsham and Washington 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 |
$267,500±$21kHighest 16% below VT |
$222,900±$56k 30% below VT |
| Halifax and Topsham 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 |
$875±$154Lowest 29% 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 |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Halifax 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 31% above VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | Halifax School District | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.