Compare towns
Waterville vs Athens vs Fletcher
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Fletcher has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Waterville | Athens | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680 |
431Lowest |
1,196Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
| Waterville and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 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+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fletcher and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$105,833±$9kHighest 30% above VT |
| Fletcher and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$302,100±$37kHighest 5% below VT |
| Fletcher and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
| Fletcher and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$4,965 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
36 min 53% above VT |
32 minLowest 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — | Fletcher School District |
| High school 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.