Compare towns
Sutton vs Waterville vs Wells River vs Newark
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Newark has the most people working from home (13.8%).
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 | Waterville | Wells River | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790Highest |
680 |
340Lowest |
727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
41.4±6Lowest 4% below 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% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Newark and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Sutton and Newark 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% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Sutton 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 |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
$72,929±$7kHighest 10% below VT |
| Newark 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 27% below VT |
$236,300±$15kHighest 25% below VT |
$170,800±$103kLowest 46% below VT |
$229,900±$23k 27% below VT |
| Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$900±$336Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 21% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$4,154Highest 18% below VT |
$3,771Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells River 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
22.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 26% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
34 min 43% above VT |
34 min 44% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newark and Sutton 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school 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.