Compare towns
Sutton vs Windsor vs Northfield 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 homeowners (85%).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Windsor | Northfield | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
2,060 |
5,920Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
44.6±12.3 3% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% 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%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±8.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor 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% |
29.2%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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% |
40%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$51,197±$4kLowest 37% below VT |
$71,768±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Northfield 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 |
$170,300±$22kLowest 46% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,002±$107Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
| Waterville and Northfield 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 |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
31.4%±20Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #61 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.