Compare towns
Walden vs Fairfax 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 the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Fairfax | Cabot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
5,226Highest |
1,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% 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% |
24%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Fairfax 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% |
12.5%±4Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfax 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±$15k 8% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$77,031±$16kLowest 5% below VT |
| Fairfax 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 |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
| Cabot and Fairfax 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 |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$4,639 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 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%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Fairfax School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.