Compare towns
Waterville vs Sutton vs Strafford
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%).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Sutton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
790 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Strafford 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 |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
— | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Strafford and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Strafford School District |
| 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.