Compare towns

Fletcher vs Halifax vs Wells vs Fairfield

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).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).

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.

MeasureFletcherHalifaxWellsFairfield
People
Population
1,196
847Lowest
1,148
1,938Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.9%
VT: +2.8%
+5.6%
VT: +2.8%
+8.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.7±7.3
13% above VT
40.6±13.1Lowest
6% below VT
50.7±5.2Highest
18% above VT
42.3±2.7
about the VT average
Wells 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%
25.4%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.1%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
25.4%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
21.7%±4
VT: 21.4%
22.6%±7.2
VT: 21.4%
24.5%±2.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
14.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Wells and Halifax 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%
44.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
29.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
30.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.9
VT: 7%
1.2%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
3%±2.1
VT: 7%
3.5%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
Fairfield 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
$63,889±$7kLowest
21% below VT
$75,417±$11k
7% below VT
$87,019±$22k
7% above VT
Fletcher and Fairfield 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
$267,500±$21k
16% below VT
$243,000±$42kLowest
23% below VT
$320,600±$22kHighest
about the VT average
Fairfield 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
$875±$154Lowest
29% below VT
$1,313±$282
6% above VT
$1,056±$441
14% below VT
Fletcher and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,965
about the VT average
$4,991Highest
about the VT average
$3,308Lowest
34% below VT
$4,816
4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±78.3
VT: 48.4%
57.1%±73.8
VT: 48.4%
62.5%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
29.2%±20.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Wells and Halifax 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%
6%
VT: 10.1%
15.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
86.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.4%
VT: 73.2%
88.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
11 yrs newer than VT
1968Lowest
8 yrs older than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
37% above VT
33 min
38% above VT
48 minHighest
102% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
12.3%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
29.9%±11.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.3%±6.2
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Halifax 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 Halifax School District Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 Maple Run Unified Union School District #57
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.