Compare towns

Waitsfield vs Sutton vs Northfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waitsfield has the most people working from home (19%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k 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.

MeasureWaitsfieldSuttonNorthfield
People
Population
1,918Lowest
2,239
5,920Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±5.3
14% above U.S.
48.1±4.1Highest
24% above U.S.
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
Sutton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.8%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Waitsfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.2%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.9
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Waitsfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
63.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.6
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,375±$34k
5% above U.S.
$130,313±$31kHighest
61% above U.S.
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
Sutton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$422,400±$92kHighest
27% above U.S.
$362,600±$16k
9% above U.S.
$274,400±$21kLowest
18% below U.S.
Waitsfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,200±$821
15% below U.S.
$1,656±$614Highest
17% above U.S.
$1,018±$207Lowest
28% below U.S.
Sutton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,208
99% above U.S.
$7,652Highest
145% above U.S.
$4,878Lowest
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.4%±30.6
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±47.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Northfield and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
Work from home
19%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.8%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Waitsfield 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 — — #42 of 70 in VT
School district Harwood Unified Union School District #60 Kearsarge Regional School District Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town None in town Kearsarge Regional High School Northfield Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4Highest
10.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.