Compare towns
Waterville vs Whiting vs Bakersfield 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 the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Bakersfield has the most people working from home (14.2%).
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 | Whiting | Bakersfield | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680 |
532Lowest |
1,109Highest |
790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
46.4±8 8% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sutton and Bakersfield 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Whiting 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 |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
| Whiting and Bakersfield 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 |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
| Whiting and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
— |
| Whiting and Bakersfield 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 |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
$3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting 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% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr 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 |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.