Compare towns
Fletcher vs Putney vs Middlesex vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Putney | Middlesex | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196 |
2,622Highest |
1,943 |
1,148Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 37% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Fletcher School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.