Compare towns

Waterville vs Northfield vs Sutton vs Belvidere

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 oldest population (median age 49.1).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Belvidere has the highest household income ($82k).

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.

MeasureWatervilleNorthfieldSuttonBelvidere
People
Population
680
5,920Highest
790
422Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%
VT: +2.8%
-11.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
49.1±8.2Highest
14% above VT
36.4±4.1Lowest
16% below VT
46.6±5.7
8% above VT
40.7±6.5
6% below 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%±8.2
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
22%±4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Belvidere and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.4%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
20%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±2.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
8.8%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Sutton and Northfield 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%
34.6%
VT: 43.8%
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
35.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.3
VT: 7%
15.1%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.8
VT: 7%
1.4%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,250±$27kLowest
12% below VT
$71,768±$13k
12% below VT
$71,250±$18kLowest
12% below VT
$81,563±$18kHighest
about the VT average
Belvidere and Northfield 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
$274,400±$21kHighest
13% below VT
$231,100±$41kLowest
27% below VT
$239,200±$51k
24% below VT
Northfield and Belvidere 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
$1,018±$207Lowest
18% below VT
—
$1,542±$1kHighest
25% above VT
Belvidere 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
$4,878Highest
3% below VT
$3,975
21% below VT
$3,908Lowest
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±27.2
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±17.7
VT: 48.4%
37.8%±31.1Lowest
VT: 48.4%
66.7%±53.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
Belvidere and Northfield 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%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
12.4%
VT: 10.1%
5.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
VT: 73.2%
73.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85%
VT: 73.2%
86.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1956Lowest
20 yrs older than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
60% above VT
27 minLowest
16% above VT
30 min
26% above VT
38 minHighest
60% above VT
Work from home
8.5%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±4.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.6%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±7.6
VT: 16.9%
Northfield and Sutton 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 — #42 of 70 in VT — —
School district Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A Paine Mountain Union School District #68 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 —
High school in town None in town Northfield Middle/High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.0
— —
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.