What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most expensive homes ($271k median).

Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Worcester	Walden
People
Population	831Lowest	1,037Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT	48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT
	Walden and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9%	14.3%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9%
	Walden and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4%	20.4%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4%
	Walden and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53%Highest VT: 43.8%	26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7%	4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Worcester and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT	$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT
	Walden and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,100±$27kHighest 14% below VT	$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT
	Worcester and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT	$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT
	Worcester and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,421Highest 12% below VT	$3,944Lowest 22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4%	56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Walden and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%	9.3%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	93.8%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest same as VT	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 22% above VT	26 minLowest 10% above VT
Work from home	23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9%	21.4%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Worcester and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92	Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.