Compare towns
Fletcher vs Jay vs Waterville vs Bakersfield
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).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Bakersfield has the youngest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Jay | Waterville | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196Highest |
471Lowest |
680 |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
46.4±8Lowest 8% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest 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%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Fletcher and Bakersfield 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Waterville 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
| Fletcher and Bakersfield 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
| Fletcher and Bakersfield 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 |
— | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
| Fletcher and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,965Highest about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Fletcher 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 37% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
38 min 60% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Fletcher School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.