What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fletcher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).

Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fletcher	Shaftsbury
People
Population	1,196Lowest	3,607Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	+0.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	48.7±7.3Highest 13% above VT	43±6.6Lowest about the VT average
	Fletcher and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±4Lowest VT: 17.9%	26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Shaftsbury and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.8%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4%
	Shaftsbury 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%Lowest VT: 43.8%	40.9%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7%	2.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7%
	Shaftsbury and Fletcher 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	$86,071±$24kLowest 6% above VT
	Fletcher and Shaftsbury 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	$267,300±$24kLowest 16% below VT
	Fletcher and Shaftsbury 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	$1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,965Highest about the VT average	$4,015Lowest 20% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±78.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	52.7%±36Highest VT: 48.4%
	Shaftsbury 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%	9.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	82.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT	1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 37% above VT	25 minLowest 5% above VT
Work from home	12.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%	7.2%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Fletcher and Shaftsbury 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	—	#62 of 70 in VT
School district	Fletcher School District	Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.