Compare towns
Walden vs Dover vs Cabot vs Fletcher
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 affordable homes ($239k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Fletcher has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Dover | Cabot | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
1,466 |
1,579Highest |
1,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
| Dover and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Fletcher 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Fletcher 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.7% VT: 43.8% |
32.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
$105,833±$9kHighest 30% above VT |
| Fletcher 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±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
$302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
| Dover and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136 27% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,243±$354 about the VT average |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
| Fletcher and Cabot 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,639 8% below VT |
$4,965Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Cabot 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
30 min 27% above VT |
32 minHighest 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Fletcher School District |
| 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.