Compare towns
Waterville vs Leicester vs Sutton vs Benson
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%).
Leicester has the most expensive homes ($310k median).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Leicester | Sutton | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,026Highest |
790 |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-10% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
48.8±3.8 13% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson 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% |
14.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 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% |
24.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Leicester 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% |
35.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson 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±$27k 12% below VT |
$70,417±$30kLowest 13% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
| Benson 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 |
$309,700±$107kHighest about the VT average |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Leicester and Benson 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 |
$1,098±$300Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
| Benson 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 |
$3,822Lowest 24% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson 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% |
11.8% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Leicester 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 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 | 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.