Compare towns
Sutton vs Middlesex vs Chester 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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Chester | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
1,943 |
2,992Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Chester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.