Compare towns
Fletcher vs Exeter vs Fairfax vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Exeter | Fairfax | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196 |
913 |
5,226Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 25% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
38.8±3.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfax and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Fairfax 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 31% above U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$128,963±$29kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| 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 9% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$378,200±$22kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$427Highest 19% above U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,080±$131 24% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,965 59% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$5,497Highest 76% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±33.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairfax and Exeter 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 | — | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Fletcher School District | — | Fairfax School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.