Compare towns
Fletcher vs Sheldon vs Sutton vs Wells
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 highest household income ($106k).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Sheldon | Sutton | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196 |
2,267Highest |
790Lowest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
46.6±5.7 8% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wells and Sutton 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Fletcher and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Fletcher and Sheldon 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 |
$1,286±$379Lowest 4% above VT |
— | $1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Fletcher and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,965Highest about the VT average |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 37% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Fletcher School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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.