Compare towns
Topsham vs Pawlet vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Pawlet has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Walden has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Topsham | Pawlet | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999Lowest |
1,480Highest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$266,200±$44kHighest 16% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Pawlet and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$398 26% below VT |
$1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Pawlet and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,006Highest 21% below VT |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Waits River Union High District #36 | Mettawee School District #84 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.