Compare towns
Fletcher vs Highgate vs Walden 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%).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Highgate | Walden | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196 |
3,528Highest |
1,037 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Walden 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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Walden 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Fletcher and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,100±$37kHighest 5% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Fletcher and Highgate 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 |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,965Highest about the VT average |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Walden 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 37% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Fletcher School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | 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 |
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.