Compare towns
Sutton vs Pownal vs Wheelock 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 youngest population (median age 46.6).
Pownal has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Pownal | Wheelock | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
3,265Highest |
717 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-7.6% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
49±9.1 14% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Wheelock 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% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Wheelock 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% |
27.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Pownal 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% |
28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Wheelock 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 |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
$71,250±$27kHighest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$256,600±$32kHighest 19% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Pownal and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
— | $1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
| Waterville and Pownal 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 |
$3,560 29% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Pownal 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
92.6% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Pownal 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 | — | #67 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | 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.