Compare towns

Fletcher vs Strafford 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 youngest population (median age 48.7).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).

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.

MeasureFletcherStraffordWells
People
Population
1,196
1,372Highest
1,148Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.7±7.3Lowest
13% above VT
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
50.7±5.2
18% above VT
Strafford and Wells 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%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.1%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Strafford 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%
22.1%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
24.5%±2.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Wells and Strafford 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%
29.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
3%±2.1
VT: 7%
Strafford and Wells 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
$75,417±$11kLowest
7% below 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
$243,000±$42kLowest
23% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,679±$427Highest
36% above VT
$1,125±$789Lowest
9% below 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
$4,965
about the VT average
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
$3,308Lowest
34% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±78.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48
VT: 48.4%
62.5%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Wells and Strafford 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%
5.2%
VT: 10.1%
15.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
11 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1977Lowest
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
37% above VT
23 minLowest
about the VT average
48 minHighest
102% above VT
Work from home
12.3%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.3%±6.2Lowest
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 Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.