Compare towns
Waterville vs Bloomfield 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 renters (20.1% rent).
Bloomfield has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (85%).
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 | Bloomfield | Benson | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680 |
234Lowest |
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 |
41.9±12Lowest about the VT average |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
46.6±5.7 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%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
27.4%±14.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Bloomfield and Waterville 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% |
25.2%±8 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.7% 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% |
0.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 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 |
$54,375±$17kLowest 33% 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 |
$190,600±$63kLowest 40% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
— | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
— |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$2,800Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 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% VT: 10.1% |
2.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
30 minLowest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
4.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Sutton 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 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.