Compare towns

Waterville vs Calais 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).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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.

MeasureWatervilleCalaisSutton
People
Population
680Lowest
1,713Highest
790
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+3.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-11.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
49.1±8.2Highest
14% above VT
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
46.6±5.7
8% 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
20.4%±8.2
VT: 17.9%
22.5%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±3.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Calais 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%
21.6%±5.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±2.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
55.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.3
VT: 7%
7.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
Calais 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±$27kLowest
12% below VT
$100,625±$27kHighest
24% above VT
$71,250±$18kLowest
12% below VT
Calais 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
$390,300±$36kHighest
23% above VT
$231,100±$41kLowest
27% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,110±$93Lowest
10% below VT
$1,408±$392Highest
14% above VT
—
Calais and Waterville 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
$6,586Highest
31% above VT
$3,975
21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±27.2
VT: 48.4%
49%±38.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
37.8%±31.1Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Calais 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%
8.8%
VT: 10.1%
12.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
60% above VT
31 min
32% above VT
30 minLowest
26% above VT
Work from home
8.5%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±7.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.6%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
Calais 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 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

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.