Median Income
$76,724
household / year
Median Home Value
$311,800
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,292
gross / month
Cost of Living
103
national avg = 100

Is Walden, NY a Good Place to Live?

Walden is a small town of 6,861 in New York, with a median household income of $76,724 and a 5.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Walden stands out for solid school ratings (B+).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Walden is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Walden city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 102.7

Walden's overall cost of living index is 102.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Walden costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric Walden, NY National Avg
Median Home Value $311,800 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,292 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 63.1% 65.9%
Median Household Income $76,724 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Walden's violent crime rate is 105.5 per 100,000 residents — 72% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
105.5 /100k
Property Crime
269.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Walden is served primarily by VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MONTGOMERY). The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Walden, NY National Avg
School District VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MONTGOMERY) —
Elementary Schools 4 —
Middle Schools 1 —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 11.9:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 25.1% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 88.4% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Walden sees average highs of 36.3°F in January and 85.1°F in July, with 45.4 inches of annual precipitation and 44.2 inches of snow per year.

MetricWalden, NY
Average High — January36.3°F
Average High — July85.1°F
Annual Precipitation45.4"
Annual Snowfall44.2"

Demographics

MetricWalden, NYNational Avg
Population6,861—
Median Age39.038.9
Unemployment Rate5.8%3.7%
Avg Commute Time28.0 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)56.7%59.3%
Black or African American16.6%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino19.9%18.9%
Asian0.6%6.3%
Under 1822.7%22.2%
65 and over11.6%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Wallkill, NY 4 mi Montgomery, NY 4 mi Orange Lake, NY 5 mi Maybrook, NY 5 mi Pine Bush, NY 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Walden

Walden, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

12586

Walden vs Other Cities

Walden, NY vs Wallkill, NY Walden, NY vs Montgomery, NY Walden, NY vs Orange Lake, NY Walden, NY vs Maybrook, NY Walden, NY vs Pine Bush, NY

Frequently Asked Questions

Walden's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Walden roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $311,800 and median rent is $1,292/month.
Walden's violent crime rate is 105.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 269.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Walden are operated by VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MONTGOMERY). The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1. 25.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Walden, NY has a population of 6,861, a median household income of $76,724, and an unemployment rate of 5.8%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Walden averages 36.3°F in January and 85.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.4 inches with about 44.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Walden, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 12586.
The population of Walden, New York is 6,861 with a median age of 39.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Walden: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $311,800, median household income $76,724, crime index 22 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Walden side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.