Compare towns
Fletcher vs Walden vs Williston 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 homeowners (96.1%).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Walden | Williston | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196 |
1,037Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,200 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% 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%±4 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.3% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$88,000±$15kLowest 8% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$427 36% above VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,443±$984 17% above VT |
| Williston and Fletcher 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 |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Williston 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% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 37% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Walden 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Fletcher School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.