Compare towns
Sutton vs Orwell vs Mendon 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).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Orwell | Mendon | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
1,294Highest |
1,113 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Mendon 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% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell 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% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Orwell 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 |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Mendon 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±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Mendon and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Orwell 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% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Orwell 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school 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.