Compare towns
Waterville vs Williamstown vs Sutton vs Benson
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 most kids (20.4% under 18).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Williamstown | Sutton | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
3,579Highest |
790 |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Williamstown 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% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson 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% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Williamstown and Benson 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 |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
— | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Benson 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 26% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #47 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— | — |
| 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.