Compare towns

Walden vs Mount Holly 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 people working from home (21.4%).
Mount Holly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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.

MeasureWaldenMount HollyTopsham
People
Population
1,037
1,415Highest
999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+12%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.8±3.2Lowest
13% above VT
53.5±8.2Highest
24% above VT
50.1±5.9
16% above VT
Mount Holly and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.3%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.2%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
18%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
Mount Holly and Topsham 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%
28%±4.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±4.8
VT: 21.4%
Mount Holly 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%
41.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
28.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
1.7%±1.3
VT: 7%
Walden and Topsham 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
$78,015±$19k
4% below VT
$72,308±$60kLowest
11% below VT
Walden and Mount Holly 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
$296,900±$40kHighest
6% below VT
$222,900±$56kLowest
30% below VT
Mount Holly 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
$1,534±$1kHighest
24% above VT
$908±$398
26% below VT
Mount Holly 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
$3,926Lowest
22% below VT
$4,006Highest
21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.3%±86.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
65.9%±65.3
VT: 48.4%
91.9%±28.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
Topsham and Mount Holly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.9%
VT: 10.1%
18.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
92.2%
VT: 73.2%
90.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1981Lowest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
10% above VT
27 min
13% above VT
35 minHighest
49% above VT
Work from home
21.4%±6.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.2%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
14.2%±5.8
VT: 16.9%
Walden and Topsham 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 Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 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

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.