Compare towns
Walden vs Reading vs Windham 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 most affordable homes ($239k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Reading | Windham | Cabot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
699 |
594Lowest |
1,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Walden and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$77,031±$16kLowest 5% below VT |
| Windham 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±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
| Reading and Windham 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— | $1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
| Cabot and Reading 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,639 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
30 min 27% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | — |
| 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.