Compare towns
Sutton vs Barnard vs Northfield vs Wheelock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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 | Sutton | Barnard | Northfield | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
1,211 |
5,920Highest |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
| Wheelock and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Barnard and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 21% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Barnard 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.