Compare towns
Cabot vs Montpelier 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).
Montpelier has the most expensive homes ($375k 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 | Montpelier | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,579 |
8,014Highest |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Montpelier 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% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Montpelier 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±$16kLowest 5% below VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden and Montpelier 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 |
$375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$354 about the VT average |
$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Montpelier 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 |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5Lowest 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% |
6.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 27% above VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | — | Montpelier High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.