Compare towns
Sutton vs Orwell vs Williston vs Newark
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Orwell has the oldest population (median age 47.5).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Newark has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
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 | Williston | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
1,294 |
10,144Highest |
727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Orwell and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Newark and Orwell 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,708±$97 38% above VT |
| Williston and Newark 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 |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,771Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Williston 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% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Newark 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.