Compare towns
Cabot vs Bristol vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($337k median).
Walden 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 | Cabot | Bristol | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,579 |
3,778Highest |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
| Walden and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bristol and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% 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 | $268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
| Bristol and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$354 about the VT average |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Bristol and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,639 8% below VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±26.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 27% above VT |
25 minLowest 5% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #31 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | — | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.