Compare towns
Waterville vs Plainfield vs Sutton vs Derby Line
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).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (85%).
Derby Line has the most affordable homes ($201k 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 | Plainfield | Sutton | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,314Highest |
790 |
783 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
46.7±13.3 8% above VT |
| Waterville and Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Derby Line 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
24.9%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Line 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
35.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Derby Line 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 |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$71,518±$25kHighest 12% below VT |
| Derby Line 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 |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$201,000±$52kLowest 37% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
— | $835±$334Lowest 32% below VT |
| Plainfield 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 |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,275Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
35.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 26% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±9.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Derby Line 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 | — |
| High school 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.