Compare towns
Waterville vs Castleton vs Whitingham 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).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fletcher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
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 | Castleton | Whitingham | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,368 |
1,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.4±7.1 8% 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% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Whitingham 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$105,833±$9kHighest 30% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$302,100±$37kHighest 5% below VT |
| Fletcher and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
| Fletcher and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$4,965 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Whitingham 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 60% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Fletcher and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Fletcher School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.