Compare towns
Fletcher vs Putney 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Putney | Waterville | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196 |
2,622Highest |
680Lowest |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
46.4±8 8% 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% |
15.4%±4.1 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% |
18.1%±3.8 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% |
48.6%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% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,833±$9kHighest 30% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
| Fletcher and Putney 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 |
$1,110±$93 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 | $4,965 about the VT average |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
94% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 37% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Bakersfield 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 | 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 Our Story | 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.