Compare towns
Washington vs Marshfield 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).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Topsham has the most expensive homes ($223k 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.
| Measure | Washington | Marshfield | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056Highest |
470Lowest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
19.4%±9.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield 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% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest 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% |
35.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Marshfield 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 |
$84,375±$20kHighest 4% above VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
| Marshfield 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±$37k 31% below VT |
$178,300±$31kLowest 44% 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±$285 19% below VT |
$1,125±$79Highest 9% below VT |
$908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
| Marshfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485 31% below VT |
$3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
$4,006Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Marshfield 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% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
29 minLowest 24% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield 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 | — | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school 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.