Compare towns
Fletcher vs Braintree 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
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 | Braintree | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,196Highest |
1,026 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3Lowest 13% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Braintree and Waterville 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% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Fletcher 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% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Braintree 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 |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,100±$37kHighest 5% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,965Highest about the VT average |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Braintree 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% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 37% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.