Compare towns

Fletcher vs Bakersfield vs Wells

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fletcher has the highest household income ($106k).
Bakersfield has the most people working from home (14.2%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).

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.

MeasureFletcherBakersfieldWells
People
Population
1,196Highest
1,109Lowest
1,148
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.7±7.3
13% above VT
46.4±8Lowest
8% 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
19%±4Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.6%±3.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
15.1%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
Fletcher and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.7%±4
VT: 21.4%
21.2%±3.9Lowest
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+
32.3%
VT: 43.8%
39.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
29.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
7.5%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
3%±2.1
VT: 7%
Bakersfield and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$105,833±$9kHighest
30% above VT
$83,462±$18k
about the VT average
$75,417±$11kLowest
7% below VT
Fletcher and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$302,100±$37kHighest
5% below VT
$271,300±$19k
14% below VT
$243,000±$42kLowest
23% below VT
Fletcher and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,679±$427Highest
36% above VT
$1,200±$327Lowest
about the VT average
$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
$4,965Highest
about the VT average
$3,823
24% below VT
$3,308Lowest
34% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±78.3
VT: 48.4%
18.8%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
62.5%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Wells and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
15.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
94%
VT: 73.2%
93.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
11 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1977Lowest
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minLowest
37% above VT
33 min
40% above VT
48 minHighest
102% above VT
Work from home
12.3%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
14.2%±7Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.3%±6.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Bakersfield and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Fletcher School District Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 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 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.