Compare towns
Waterville vs Fair Haven 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%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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.
| Measure | Waterville | Fair Haven | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
2,724Highest |
790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
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%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Fair Haven 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% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sutton and Fair Haven 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% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kHighest 12% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$71,250±$18kHighest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15kHighest 25% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
| Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$3,975Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven 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% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
30 minLowest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sutton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| 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 | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.