Compare towns
Barton vs Middlesex vs Sutton vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most renters (26.1% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 46.6).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Barton | Middlesex | Sutton | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,815Highest |
1,943 |
790 |
573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.9±6.5 4% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
46.6±5.7Highest 8% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
| Sutton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,250±$16k 18% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,200±$28k 36% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
— | $967±$79 22% below VT |
| Middlesex and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,355 33% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 50% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Barton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | Lake Region Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5 |
— | — | — |
| 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.