Compare towns
Fletcher vs Sheldon vs Waterville vs Fairfax
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%).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Waterville | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196 |
2,267 |
680Lowest |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below 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%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fletcher and Waterville 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% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
| Fletcher and Sheldon 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Fairfax 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 37% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fletcher School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.