Compare towns
Brandon vs Cabot vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Walden has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Brandon | Cabot | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,579 |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Brandon and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brandon and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
44.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$268,500±$77kHighest 15% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Cabot and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Cabot and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$4,639Highest 8% below VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 minHighest 27% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #69 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.