Compare towns
Cabot vs Castleton vs Walden vs Craftsbury
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).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Walden has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Craftsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.4%).
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 | Castleton | Walden | Craftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,579 |
4,453Highest |
1,037Lowest |
1,352 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+11.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.3±6.6 6% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
41.5±4.6 4% below VT |
| Walden and Craftsbury 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Craftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Craftsbury 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
12.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$83,672±$16k 3% above VT |
| Walden and Craftsbury 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$270,500±$44kHighest 15% below VT |
| Craftsbury and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,091±$184 12% below VT |
| Cabot and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,639Highest 8% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$4,164 17% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
29.9%±29.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 27% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.5%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.