Compare towns
Walden vs Williston 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 homeowners (93.8%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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.
| Measure | Walden | Williston | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037 |
10,144Highest |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
| Topsham 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
| Williston 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±$23k 25% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.