Compare towns
Waterville vs Orange vs Fletcher
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Orange has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Orange | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
7,573Highest |
1,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.7±7.3 25% above U.S. |
| 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%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fletcher and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Orange 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 U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$105,833±$9kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| 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 29% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$302,100±$37kHighest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,679±$427Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$4,965Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±78.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fletcher and Waterville 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Fletcher School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.