Compare towns
Walden vs Jay vs Salisbury
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 youngest population (median age 48.8).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Jay | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037 |
471Lowest |
1,200Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Lowest 13% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
| Jay and Salisbury 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Walden 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Jay 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 |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
| Salisbury 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$306,900±$51kHighest 3% below VT |
| Salisbury and Walden 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 |
— | $1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 22% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,842Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Jay 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.