Compare towns
Fletcher vs Calais vs Walden vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fletcher has the highest household income ($106k).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Fletcher | Calais | Walden | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196 |
1,713 |
1,037Lowest |
1,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Walden and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fletcher and Calais 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Calais 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 |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$87,019±$22kLowest 7% above VT |
| Fletcher and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
| Fletcher and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,965 about the VT average |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Calais 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 37% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Fletcher School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.