Compare towns
Walden vs Benson vs Cabot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Walden | Benson | Cabot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037 |
784Lowest |
1,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
| Benson and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
44.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$77,031±$16kLowest 5% below VT |
| Walden and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$268,500±$77kHighest 15% below VT |
| Cabot and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
| Cabot and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,639Highest 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
30 min 27% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school 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.