The Town FilesWalden, Vermont
Town in Caledonia County · population 956 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $238,900
- Household income
- $88,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 114 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 48.8
Walden is a town of 956 people in Caledonia County, Vermont. The median home is worth $238,900, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks better for cycling than 94% of Vermont towns, quieter than 93% of Vermont towns, better transit than 90% of Vermont towns.
How Walden ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Walden is worth $238,900, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $88,000, which is more affordable than 94% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $900 a month. 93.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Walden | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $238,900 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $900 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $88,000 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 93.8% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 23.6% | — |
Who lives in Walden
| People | Walden | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.8 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.4% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.3% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 21.4% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.4% | 89.3% |
Weather in Walden
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows 9.0°F. About 40.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 114.0 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Walden since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Vermont town. The strongest, an F1, struck on August 13, 1999 about 7.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 13, 1999.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 4, 1974.
Severe weather in Caledonia County since 1996
Caledonia County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Flood | DR-4826: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4810: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| July 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4720: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3595: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Caledonia County
Caledonia County had 11,117 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,371 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Walden itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Walden
1 public school with 76 students, about 7.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walden School | PK-8 | 76 | 7.6 |
Towns near Walden
- Wheelock, VT6.0 mi · 759 people · home $189,600
- Danville, VT6.0 mi · 2,335 people · home $275,800
- Hardwick, VT6.5 mi · 2,920 people · home $184,700
- Hardwick, VT6.9 mi · 1,269 people · home $180,600
- Cabot, VT7.5 mi · 1,443 people · home $268,500
- Woodbury, VT7.9 mi · 928 people · home $311,200
- Greensboro, VT8.4 mi · 811 people · home $392,400
- St. Johnsbury, VT11.0 mi · 7,364 people · home $177,700
Walden questions
Is Walden, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Walden scores better for retirees than 23% of Vermont towns and quieter than 93%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.8).
How much does a house cost in Walden?
The median owner-occupied home in Walden is valued at $238,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,000, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $900 a month.
What is the weather like in Walden?
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows 9.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.3 inches of precipitation a year and 114.0 inches of snow.
Does Walden get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Walden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on August 13, 1999. The typical Vermont town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)