Compare towns
Brownington vs Sutton vs Ryegate vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brownington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 46.6).
Ryegate has the oldest housing (typical home built 1949).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Brownington | Sutton | Ryegate | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,144 |
790Lowest |
1,059 |
1,590Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.5±4.5 6% below VT |
46.6±5.7Highest 8% above VT |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
| Sutton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Brownington and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ryegate and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,556±$17k 7% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
| Franklin and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$40kLowest 39% below VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
$247,400±$66kHighest 22% below VT |
| Franklin and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $745±$504Lowest 40% below VT |
— | $908±$236Highest 26% below VT |
$891±$266 28% below VT |
| Ryegate and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,912 22% below VT |
$3,975Highest 21% below VT |
$3,472 31% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Brownington and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None 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.