Compare towns
Johnson vs Walden vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnson has the youngest population (median age 30.9).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Johnson | Walden | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450Highest |
1,037 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Walden and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Walden and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$238,900±$23kHighest 25% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Walden and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45 23% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,957Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 42% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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 |
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.