Compare towns
Fletcher vs Putney vs Williston vs Fairfield
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 most homeowners (96.1%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% 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 | Putney | Williston | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196Lowest |
2,622 |
10,144Highest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3Highest 13% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Fletcher and Williston 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%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fletcher and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Williston 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±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$427 36% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
| Williston and Fletcher 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 |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,816Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Williston 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 37% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Fletcher School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| 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.