Compare towns
Walden vs Jackson vs Fletcher
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Jackson has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Fletcher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
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 | Walden | Jackson | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
1,695Highest |
1,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
48.7±7.3Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fletcher and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
$77,375±$8kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$105,833±$9kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Fletcher and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$235,400±$40kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$302,100±$37kHighest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,139±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,679±$427Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,165 34% above U.S. |
$4,965Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±78.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — | Fletcher School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.