Compare towns
Sutton vs Ripton vs Townshend 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%).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Townshend | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
508Lowest |
1,538Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Townshend 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% |
12%±2.6 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%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Ripton and Townshend 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Ripton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
| Waterville and Townshend 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,364Highest 6% above 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% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Ripton 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% 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 |
1982Highest 6 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 |
25 min 6% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Ripton 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
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| 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.