What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westmoreland has the shortest commute (23 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.

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

Measure	Fletcher	Westmoreland
People
Population	1,196Lowest	2,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.7±7.3Lowest 25% above U.S.	55.3±2.2Highest 42% above U.S.
	Westmoreland and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	14.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Fletcher and Westmoreland 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%	31.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	47.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Westmoreland and Fletcher 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.	$104,444±$28kLowest 29% above U.S.
	Fletcher and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$302,100±$37kLowest 9% below U.S.	$351,800±$12kHighest 6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,679±$427Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,354±$280Lowest 4% below U.S.
	Fletcher and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,965Lowest 59% above U.S.	$6,643Highest 113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±78.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	32.5%±23.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fletcher and Westmoreland 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%	89.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	12.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.9%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Westmoreland 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	Westmoreland School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.