Compare towns
Sutton vs Athens vs Burke vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Athens has the most renters (26.3% rent).
Burke has the most expensive homes ($341k median).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Sutton | Athens | Burke | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
431Lowest |
1,317Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
41.1±4.8Lowest 5% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Burke and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Burke and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.3 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Burke and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
$938±$191Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Athens and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 21% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$5,177 about the VT average |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
36 min 53% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Burke and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | 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 | 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.