Compare towns
Walden vs Guildhall vs Cabot 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 homeowners (93.8%).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Guildhall | Cabot | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
371Lowest |
1,579Highest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
42.6±7.8 about the VT average |
40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
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% |
22.6%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±5.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Guildhall and Topsham 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% |
33.9% VT: 43.8% |
44.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Walden and Cabot 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 |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above VT |
$77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
| Guildhall 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±$23k 25% below VT |
$321,200±$62kHighest about the VT average |
$268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Guildhall and Cabot 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 |
$850±$717Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
| Cabot 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 |
$4,625 8% below VT |
$4,639Highest 8% below VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
75%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Guildhall 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% |
11.9% VT: 10.1% |
9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
30 min 27% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — | — | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.