Compare towns
Fletcher vs Dummerston vs Fairfield 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 the highest household income ($106k).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
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 | Dummerston | Fairfield | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196 |
2,090Highest |
1,938 |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
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%±4 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 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 | $105,833±$9kHighest 30% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$87,019±$22kLowest 7% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| Fletcher and Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
| Dummerston and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Fletcher and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,965Highest about the VT average |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Dummerston 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% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 37% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.