Compare towns
Sutton vs Columbia vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).
Columbia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Sutton | Columbia | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 790Highest |
683 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Lowest 20% above U.S. |
51.8±10.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| Columbia and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±8.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Columbia 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Columbia and Waterville 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 U.S. |
$57,917±$13kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27kHighest 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41k 31% below U.S. |
$196,400±$29kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15kHighest 29% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $792±$333Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975Highest 27% above U.S. |
$2,009Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
9.1%±95.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Columbia 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 | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.