Compare towns
Walden vs Fairlee 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%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Fairlee | Cabot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
1,066 |
1,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
| Fairlee 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee 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 |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% 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±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT |
$268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
| Fairlee and Cabot 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 |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
| Cabot and Fairlee 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 |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,639 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
30 minHighest 27% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school 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.