Compare towns
Cabot vs Ripton vs Jay 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Ripton | Jay | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,579Highest |
508 |
471Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| Ripton and Walden 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Ripton 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 |
— | — | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Cabot and Walden 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 27% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.