Compare towns
Sutton vs Wheelock vs Calais vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Wheelock | Calais | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
717 |
1,713Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| 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%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Waterville 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 |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Calais 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 |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Calais and Waterville 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 |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Wheelock 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.