Compare towns
Fletcher vs Ripton vs Walden vs Salisbury
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Ripton | Walden | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196 |
508Lowest |
1,037 |
1,200Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Fletcher and Salisbury 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Salisbury 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$88,000±$15kLowest 8% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
| Ripton and Salisbury 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 |
$1,443±$984 17% above VT |
| Fletcher and Salisbury 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 37% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
26 min 10% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Fletcher School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.