Compare towns
Sutton vs White River Junction vs Waterville 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 most homeowners (85%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Derby Line has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
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 | White River Junction | Waterville | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
3,364Highest |
680Lowest |
783 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
46.7±13.3 8% above VT |
| Waterville 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% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Derby Line 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.9%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Line and Sutton 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% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Derby Line 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 |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$71,518±$25k 12% below VT |
| White River Junction 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 |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$201,000±$52kLowest 37% below VT |
| White River Junction and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$835±$334Lowest 32% below VT |
| White River Junction 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$3,275Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
35.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and White River Junction 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% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
83% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±9.8 VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction and Derby Line 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 | — |
| High school 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.