Compare towns
Walden vs Fairfield vs Topsham
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 people working from home (21.4%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
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 | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037 |
1,938Highest |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Topsham 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% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Fairfield 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 |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
| Walden and Fairfield 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 |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,056±$441Highest 14% below VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
| Fairfield and Topsham 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 |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Topsham 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 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| 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.