Compare towns
Sutton vs Vernon vs Waterville vs Whitingham
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 most people working from home (11.6%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Whitingham has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Vernon | Waterville | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
2,709Highest |
680Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Waterville and Sutton 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% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Whitingham 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% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Vernon 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 VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Vernon 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±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Vernon and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Waterville and Vernon 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 |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Waterville 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% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
38 min 60% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Sutton and Whitingham 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Vernon School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.