Compare towns
Cabot vs Fairfield vs Proctor 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).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Walden has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
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 | Fairfield | Proctor | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,579 |
1,938Highest |
1,794 |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
| Walden and Proctor 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% |
25.4%±5 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Fairfield 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% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor 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% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Proctor 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 |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden and Fairfield 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 |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Fairfield 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 |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Cabot and Fairfield 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 |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 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 | 9% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 27% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.