Compare towns
Walden vs Fairfield vs Middlesex
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).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Fairfield | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
1,938 |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Walden and Middlesex 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% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Middlesex 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% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex 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% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$87,019±$22kLowest 7% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex and Fairfield 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 |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Fairfield 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 |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Fairfield 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% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 |
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.