Compare towns
Sutton vs Dover vs Sheffield 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 homeowners (85%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
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 | Dover | Sheffield | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
1,466Highest |
573Lowest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 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+ | 21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Sheffield 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 VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$58,333±$26k 28% below VT |
$71,250±$27kHighest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
| Waterville and Sheffield 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 |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Sutton 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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 | 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.