Compare towns
Walden vs Sutton vs Jay 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 highest household income ($88k).
Sutton has the most renters (15% rent).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Topsham has the most kids (18% 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 | Sutton | Jay | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037Highest |
790 |
471Lowest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham and Sutton 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Sutton 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 |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
| Walden and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23kHighest 25% below VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Walden and Jay 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±$398Highest 26% below VT |
| Topsham 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 |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,006Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest 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% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% VT: 73.2% |
85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
35 min 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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 | 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.