Compare towns
Sutton vs Chester vs Waterville vs Whitingham
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).
Chester has the most people working from home (14%).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Whitingham has the most expensive homes ($262k median).
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 | Chester | Waterville | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
2,992Highest |
680Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
| Chester and Waterville 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Whitingham 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% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Chester 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% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18kHighest 12% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$71,250±$27kHighest 12% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$262,300±$30kHighest 17% below VT |
| Whitingham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 21% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
38 min 60% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Chester 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
| 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.