Compare towns
Highgate vs Putney 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
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Highgate | Putney | Sutton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
2,622 |
790 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Highgate and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Putney and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— | $1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
| Waterville and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.