Compare towns
Sutton vs Highgate vs Fair Haven 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%).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Highgate | Fair Haven | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
3,528Highest |
2,724 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below 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 | 17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Fair Haven 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 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+ | 32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Fair Haven 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 |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Highgate 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±$41k 27% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% 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 | $3,975Highest 21% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 26% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.