Compare towns
Belvidere vs Stratton vs Walden vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Belvidere | Stratton | Walden | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 422Lowest |
532 |
1,037Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5 6% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Walden and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Stratton and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Belvidere and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.