Compare towns
Fletcher vs Bennington vs Fairfax vs Waterville
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 most homeowners (96.1%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Fletcher | Bennington | Fairfax | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196 |
15,249Highest |
5,226 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Waterville 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% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington 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% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Fairfax and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,965 about the VT average |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Waterville 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% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 37% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Bennington 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Fletcher School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Fairfax School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.