Compare towns
Fletcher vs Plainfield vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fletcher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
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 | Fletcher | Plainfield | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,196Highest |
1,016Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 25% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
48.8±3.2Highest 25% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Fletcher and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 32.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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 31% above U.S. |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
| 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 9% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$427Highest 19% above U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$900±$136 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,965Highest 59% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walden and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Fletcher School District | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.