Compare towns
Sutton vs Unity vs Waterville vs Barton
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
Barton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Unity | Waterville | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
1,375 |
680Lowest |
2,815Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 20% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
44.9±6.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Unity 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Waterville 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Barton 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. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$201,200±$28kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Unity and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$793±$70Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Unity and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 27% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
$3,355Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton and Sutton 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 | — | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Unity School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Lake Region Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.