Compare towns
Sutton vs Ripton vs Montgomery 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Montgomery | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
508Lowest |
1,047Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Montgomery 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Sutton 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% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Ripton 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% VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Ripton and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
| Waterville and Montgomery 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,326 14% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
37 min 58% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Montgomery 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.