Compare towns
Sutton vs Whitingham vs Sheldon vs Waterville
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 affordable homes ($231k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Whitingham | Sheldon | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
1,368 |
2,267Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% 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%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest 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 |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Sheldon and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
38 min 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— | — |
| 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.