Compare towns
Barnard vs Lancaster vs Sutton vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k 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 | Barnard | Lancaster | Sutton | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
8,606 |
9,452Highest |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.9±10.1 13% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Royalton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$103,938±$24k 29% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 94% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Nashoba | Sutton | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.