Compare towns
Fletcher vs Waterville vs Worcester vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fletcher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Walden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Waterville | Worcester | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196Highest |
680Lowest |
831 |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Waterville and Walden 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% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Fletcher 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Fletcher and Walden 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% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Waterville 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 |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| Fletcher and Walden 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 |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Fletcher and Worcester 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 |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,965Highest about the VT average |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Waterville 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% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 37% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Fletcher School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.