Compare towns
Washington vs Topsham vs Wheelock
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).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Topsham | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056Highest |
999 |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
50.1±5.9Lowest 16% above VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
| Washington and Wheelock 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% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock 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 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Wheelock 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±$8k 19% below VT |
$72,308±$60kHighest 11% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% 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±$37k 31% below VT |
$222,900±$56kHighest 30% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% 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 |
$908±$398Lowest 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 | $3,485 31% below VT |
$4,006Highest 21% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock 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 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.