Compare towns
Fletcher vs Reading vs Fairfax 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 homeowners (96.1%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Reading | Fairfax | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196 |
699Lowest |
5,226Highest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Reading and Walden 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Fletcher 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Fairfax 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±$9k 30% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| Fairfax 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
| Fairfax and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Fletcher and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 37% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Reading 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 | — | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Fletcher School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Fairfax School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.