Compare towns

Waterville vs Chittenden 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Chittenden has the highest household income ($106k).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).

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.

MeasureWatervilleChittendenSutton
People
Population
680Lowest
1,318Highest
790
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1.7%
VT: +2.8%
-11.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
49.1±8.2
14% above VT
50.8±6.3Highest
18% above VT
46.6±5.7Lowest
8% above VT
Chittenden 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%
13.8%±2.5Lowest
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%
21.8%±4Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±2.7
VT: 21.4%
Chittenden and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
51.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.8%±1.6
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
Waterville and Chittenden 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
$106,250±$28kHighest
31% above VT
$71,250±$18kLowest
12% below VT
Chittenden 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
$346,800±$35kHighest
10% above VT
$231,100±$41kLowest
27% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,110±$93Lowest
10% below VT
$1,125±$488Highest
9% below VT
—
Chittenden 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
$5,346Highest
6% above VT
$3,975
21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±27.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
14.8%±55.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
37.8%±31.1
VT: 48.4%
Waterville and Sutton 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%
6.6%
VT: 10.1%
12.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
60% above VT
28 minLowest
21% above VT
30 min
26% above VT
Work from home
8.5%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
15%±3.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.6%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
Chittenden 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 Barstow Unified Union School District #49 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.