What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fletcher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).

Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fletcher	Wayne
People
Population	1,196Highest	1,033Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.7±7.3Lowest 25% above U.S.	62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Fletcher and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fletcher and Wayne 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 31% above U.S.	$90,938±$17kLowest 13% above U.S.
	Fletcher and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$302,100±$37kHighest 9% below U.S.	$266,700±$150kLowest 20% below U.S.
	Fletcher and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,679±$427Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,031±$304Lowest 27% below U.S.
	Fletcher and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,965Highest 59% above U.S.	$3,967Lowest 27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±78.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fletcher and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	95.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	28 minLowest 7% above U.S.
Work from home	12.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Fletcher and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Fletcher School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.