Compare towns
Walden vs Williston vs Putney 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 affordable homes ($239k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Williston | Putney | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,622 |
1,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
| Walden and Fletcher 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fletcher and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
| Williston and Fletcher 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,679±$427 36% above VT |
| Williston and Fletcher 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 |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,965 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Putney 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
32 minHighest 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.