Compare towns

Derby 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

Derby has the highest household income ($80k).
Sutton has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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.

MeasureDerbySuttonWaterville
People
Population
4,537Highest
790
680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.9%
VT: +2.8%
-11.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.6±2.1Highest
20% above VT
46.6±5.7Lowest
8% above VT
49.1±8.2
14% above VT
Derby and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.7%±3.6Lowest
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+
27.2%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±2.7
VT: 21.4%
14.4%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Derby and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
32.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
5.3%±3.3Highest
VT: 7%
Waterville and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,250±$8kHighest
about the VT average
$71,250±$18kLowest
12% below VT
$71,250±$27kLowest
12% below VT
Derby and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$225,000±$10kLowest
29% below VT
$231,100±$41k
27% below VT
$236,300±$15kHighest
25% below VT
Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,096±$118Lowest
11% below VT
—
$1,110±$93Highest
10% below VT
Waterville and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,449Lowest
32% below VT
$3,975Highest
21% below VT
$3,957
21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.8%±18.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
37.8%±31.1Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±27.2
VT: 48.4%
Derby and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.4%
VT: 10.1%
12.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.7%
VT: 73.2%
85%Highest
VT: 73.2%
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
38% above VT
30 minLowest
26% above VT
38 minHighest
60% above VT
Work from home
10.6%±3.5
VT: 16.9%
11.6%±5.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.5%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Sutton and Derby 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 #52 of 70 in VT — —
School district Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District 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.