Compare towns
Waterville vs Plainfield vs Sutton 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 renters (20.1% rent).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
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 | Plainfield | Sutton | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
2,522Highest |
790 |
1,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.6±5.7 20% 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fletcher and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$105,833±$9k 31% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$302,100±$37k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
— | $1,679±$427Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Fletcher and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,975 27% above U.S. |
$4,965 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Fletcher 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Plainfield School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Fletcher School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.