Compare towns
Cabot vs Fairlee 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).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Fairlee | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,579Highest |
1,066 |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Fairlee and Walden 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee 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 |
$74,760±$10kLowest 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 |
$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
| Fairlee 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 |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Cabot and Fairlee 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 |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±26.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Walden 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 27% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.