Compare towns
Chelsea 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
Chelsea has the most expensive homes ($261k median).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).
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 | Chelsea | Sutton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,223Highest |
790 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Chelsea and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
$71,250±$18kHighest 12% below VT |
$71,250±$27kHighest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $260,900±$39kHighest 18% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Chelsea and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
— | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Chelsea and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
$3,975Highest 21% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
30 minLowest 26% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Chelsea and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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 |
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.