Compare towns
Walden vs Castleton vs Andover vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has the most homeowners (93.8%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($383k median).
Topsham has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
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 | Walden | Castleton | Andover | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
4,453Highest |
616Lowest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
| Topsham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham and Andover 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
43.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
| Andover and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
| Andover and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Walden 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| 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.