Compare towns
Fletcher vs Middlesex vs Worcester 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%).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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 | Middlesex | Worcester | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196 |
1,943Highest |
831 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Waterville 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fletcher and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$9k 30% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 5% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Fletcher and Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 37% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Fletcher School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.