Compare towns
Sutton vs Salem vs Wheelock vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).
Salem has the highest household income ($83k).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Salem | Wheelock | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
2,611Highest |
717 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Lowest 20% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
51±5.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$18k 12% below U.S. |
$83,398±$12kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
| Salem 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±$41k 31% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26k 41% below U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15kHighest 29% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— | $1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975Highest 27% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$2,937Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Wheelock 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 | — | #376 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.