Compare towns
Fletcher vs Jay vs Ripton 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 most kids (19% under 18).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Jay | Ripton | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196Highest |
471Lowest |
508 |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Jay and Walden 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Fletcher and Walden 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| Ripton and Fletcher 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Ripton and Fletcher 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 |
— | — | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,965Highest about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Ripton 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 37% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 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.