Compare towns
Washington vs Wardsboro 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 people working from home (14.9%).
Wardsboro has the most expensive homes ($299k median).
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 | Wardsboro | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056Highest |
820Lowest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
50.1±5.9Lowest 16% above VT |
| Washington and Wardsboro 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% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±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 |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% 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 |
$299,300±$47kHighest 5% below VT |
$222,900±$56k 30% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Topsham 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 |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Washington 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 |
$4,345Highest 14% below VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Wardsboro 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Washington and Topsham 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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.