Compare towns
Fairfield vs Fletcher vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Fletcher has the highest household income ($106k).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Fairfield | Fletcher | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938Highest |
1,196 |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
| Walden and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Fletcher and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
32.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22kLowest 7% above VT |
$105,833±$9kHighest 30% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| Fletcher and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
| Fairfield and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Fletcher and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 4% below VT |
$4,965Highest about the VT average |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
32 minHighest 37% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Fletcher School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.