Compare towns
Sutton vs Plainfield vs Fairfield 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).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Plainfield | Fairfield | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
1,314 |
1,938Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Sutton and Plainfield 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% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Fairfield 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 |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Fairfield 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Fairfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Plainfield 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | 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.