Compare towns
Waterville vs Wells River 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).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Sutton has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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.
| Measure | Waterville | Wells River | Sutton | Belvidere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680 |
340Lowest |
790Highest |
422 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 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% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest 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% |
19.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sutton and Wells River 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% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Sutton 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 |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$81,563±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Belvidere 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 |
$170,800±$103kLowest 46% below VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$239,200±$51kHighest 24% below VT |
| Belvidere and Waterville 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 |
$900±$336Lowest 27% 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 |
$4,154Highest 18% 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% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Wells River 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% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 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 |
34 min 43% above VT |
30 minLowest 26% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Sutton and Belvidere 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.