Compare towns
Fletcher vs Strafford vs Waterville 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%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Strafford | Waterville | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196 |
1,372 |
680Lowest |
1,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Strafford and Waterville 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%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Fletcher and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 37% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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.