Compare towns
Walden vs Topsham 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%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
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 | Topsham | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037 |
999Lowest |
1,196Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
48.7±7.3Lowest 13% above VT |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
19%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fletcher and Topsham 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% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham and Fletcher 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% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Topsham 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 8% above VT |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
$105,833±$9kHighest 30% 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 | $238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$302,100±$37kHighest 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
| Fletcher and Topsham 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 |
$4,006 21% below VT |
$4,965Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Topsham 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 | Waits River Union High District #36 | Fletcher School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.