Compare towns
Waterville vs Orwell 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%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
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 | Orwell | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,294Highest |
790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
| Waterville and Orwell 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% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Waterville 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%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Sutton 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Orwell 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 |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$71,250±$18kHighest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
— |
| Waterville and Orwell 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 |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$3,975Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell 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% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell and Sutton 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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 |
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.