Compare towns
Fletcher vs Castleton vs Stamford 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 people working from home (12.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Stamford has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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 | Castleton | Stamford | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196 |
4,453Highest |
963 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.4±5.5Highest 15% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Stamford 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% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.1%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Stamford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fletcher and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.5%±3.4 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,833±$9kHighest 30% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$88,646±$9k 9% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Fletcher and Stamford 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$303,200±$25kHighest 4% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Stamford and Fletcher 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,583±$935 28% above VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Fletcher and Stamford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,965 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,113Highest about the VT average |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
95.4% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 37% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 min 30% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±2.9 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Fletcher and Waterville 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 | Fletcher School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Stamford School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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 | 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.