Compare towns
Walden vs Castleton vs Brookfield 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%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Castleton | Brookfield | Cabot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,486 |
1,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
40.3±6.6 6% below VT |
| Walden and Brookfield 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Castleton 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% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
| Brookfield 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±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
| Brookfield and Cabot 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
| Cabot 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 |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$4,639Highest 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Walden 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
30 min 27% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| 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 | 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.