Compare towns
Waterville vs Athens vs Benson vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Athens has the most renters (26.3% rent).
Benson has the highest household income ($79k).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Waterville | Athens | Benson | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680 |
431Lowest |
784 |
790Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson 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±$27k 12% below VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
| Benson and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
— |
| Athens and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
36 min 53% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
30 minLowest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.