Compare towns
Sutton vs Orwell 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 expensive homes ($336k 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 | Orwell | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 790 |
1,294Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest 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%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell 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% |
22.1%Lowest 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% |
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±$18kHighest 12% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$71,250±$27kHighest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
| Waterville and Orwell 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 |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell 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% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%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 |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell 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 | 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 |
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.