Compare towns
Walden vs Ripton vs Strafford vs Fletcher
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Fletcher has the most homeowners (96.1%).
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 | Ripton | Strafford | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
508Lowest |
1,372Highest |
1,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
| Strafford and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15kLowest 8% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
| Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
— | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
| Fletcher and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,965 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3Lowest 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 | 9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
32 minHighest 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2Lowest 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District | Fletcher School District |
| 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.