Compare towns
Walden vs Fair Haven 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%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Fair Haven | Cabot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
2,724Highest |
1,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
40.3±6.6 6% below VT |
| Walden and Cabot 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% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Cabot and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven 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 |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
| Walden and Cabot 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 |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$268,500±$77kHighest 15% below VT |
| Cabot and Walden 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 |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
| Cabot and Walden 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 |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,639Highest 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Fair Haven 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% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
30 min 27% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.