Compare towns
Castleton vs Fletcher vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fletcher has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Castleton | Fletcher | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,196 |
1,148Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Wells and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fletcher and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4 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+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.3% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$105,833±$9kHighest 30% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$302,100±$37kHighest 5% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Fletcher and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above 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 | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,965Highest about the VT average |
$3,308 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Fletcher and Wells 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Fletcher School District | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.