Compare towns
Fletcher vs Wells vs Westminster 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 highest household income ($106k).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Walden has the shortest commute (26 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 | Wells | Westminster | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196Highest |
1,148 |
497Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Wells 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% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Wells 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% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Wells 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 30% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| 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±$37k 5% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
| Westminster 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 |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
| Fletcher and Wells 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 |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 37% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Fletcher School District | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school 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.