Compare towns
Fletcher vs Whiting vs Walden vs Wells
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).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Whiting | Walden | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196Highest |
532Lowest |
1,037 |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Whiting 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 30% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
| Fletcher and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,100±$37kHighest 5% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Fletcher and Whiting 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 |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above 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 |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Whiting 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% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 37% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.