Compare towns
Walden vs Jay vs Topsham 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 the highest household income ($88k).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
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 | Jay | Topsham | Cabot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
471Lowest |
999 |
1,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
| Jay and Topsham 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% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham and Cabot 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
44.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6 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±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% 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±$23k 25% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$268,500±$77kHighest 15% below VT |
| Cabot 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 |
— | $908±$398 26% below VT |
$1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
| Cabot and Topsham 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 |
$4,006 21% below VT |
$4,639Highest 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7 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% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
35 min 49% above VT |
30 min 27% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2 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 | 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 | 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.