Compare towns
Sutton vs Wells vs Derby Line
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Derby Line has the most kids (22.6% 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 | Wells | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 790 |
1,148Highest |
783Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
46.7±13.3 8% above VT |
| Wells and Derby Line 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%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Derby Line and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.9%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Line and Wells 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% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Derby Line and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
$71,518±$25k 12% below VT |
| Wells and Derby Line 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 |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
$201,000±$52kLowest 37% below VT |
| Wells and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$835±$334Lowest 32% below VT |
| Wells and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975Highest 21% below VT |
$3,308 34% below VT |
$3,275Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
35.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Sutton 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±9.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Derby Line 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.