Compare towns
Waterville vs Dover vs Sutton vs Fletcher
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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).
Fletcher has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Dover | Sutton | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,466Highest |
790 |
1,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
| Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Fletcher 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Fletcher 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Dover 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$105,833±$9kHighest 30% above VT |
| Fletcher 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 |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
| Dover and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
— | $1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$4,965Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Fletcher 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Fletcher 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Fletcher School District |
| High school in town | None 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.