Compare towns
Sutton vs Benson vs Northfield vs Burke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Northfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.7%).
Burke has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Benson | Northfield | Burke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
784Lowest |
5,920Highest |
1,317 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
41.1±4.8 5% below VT |
| Benson 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% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Burke and Sutton 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% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT |
| Burke and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$938±$191Lowest 24% below VT |
| Benson and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$5,177Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Northfield 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% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Burke and Benson 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| 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.