Compare towns

Fletcher vs Bennington vs Walden

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fletcher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
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.

MeasureFletcherBenningtonWalden
People
Population
1,196
15,249Highest
1,037Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+2.2%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.7±7.3
13% above VT
44.7±2.3Lowest
4% 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
19%±4Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.7%±2.3
VT: 17.9%
14.3%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Fletcher and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.7%±4
VT: 21.4%
25.2%±2.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.4%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bennington and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.3%
VT: 43.8%
36.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
26.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
5.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
4%±2.1
VT: 7%
Bennington and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$105,833±$9kHighest
30% above VT
$59,446±$7kLowest
27% below 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
$302,100±$37kHighest
5% below VT
$213,300±$15kLowest
33% below VT
$238,900±$23k
25% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,679±$427Highest
36% above VT
$1,133±$63
8% below VT
$900±$136Lowest
27% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,965Highest
about the VT average
$4,513
10% below VT
$3,944Lowest
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±78.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
68.8%±14.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
56.3%±86.8
VT: 48.4%
Bennington and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
13.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
9.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
58.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
11 yrs newer than VT
1961Lowest
15 yrs older than VT
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
37% above VT
17 minLowest
27% below VT
26 min
10% above VT
Work from home
12.3%±7.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
15.1%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
21.4%±6.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Walden and Bennington 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 — #58 of 70 in VT —
School district Fletcher School District Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78
High school in town None in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.7
—
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.