Compare towns
Walden vs Middlesex vs Cabot vs Fletcher
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 affordable homes ($239k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Fletcher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Cabot | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,579 |
1,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
| Walden and Fletcher 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fletcher 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.7% VT: 43.8% |
32.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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±$15k 8% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$77,031±$16kLowest 5% below VT |
$105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
| Middlesex and Fletcher 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
$302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
| Middlesex and Fletcher 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,243±$354 about the VT average |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
| Fletcher and Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,639 8% below VT |
$4,965 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Cabot 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
30 min 27% above VT |
32 minHighest 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Fletcher School District |
| 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.