Compare towns
Bristol vs Sutton vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most people working from home (17.9%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (85%).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Bristol | Sutton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
790 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bristol and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kHighest 8% below VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Bristol and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
— | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Bristol and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol and Sutton 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 | #31 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.