Compare towns
Waterville vs Fairlee vs Sutton vs Bakersfield
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%).
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Bakersfield has the highest household income ($83k).
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 | Fairlee | Sutton | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,066 |
790 |
1,109Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
46.4±8Lowest 8% above VT |
| Fairlee 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield 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 |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Fairlee 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 |
$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
| Fairlee and Bakersfield 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 |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
— | $1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
| Bakersfield 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 |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee and Bakersfield 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.