Compare towns
Waterville vs Stratton vs Benson 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 affordable homes ($236k median).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Fletcher has the most homeowners (96.1%).
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 | Stratton | Benson | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680 |
532Lowest |
784 |
1,196Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Fletcher 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 VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Waterville 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 VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
| Stratton 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±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
| Fletcher and Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,965Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Waterville 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
32 minLowest 35% above VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Fletcher School District |
| High school 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 |
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.