Compare towns
Sutton vs Benson vs Sheldon vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Barton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Sheldon | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
784Lowest |
2,267 |
2,815Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
44.9±6.5 4% above 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%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Barton 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below VT |
| Benson and Sheldon 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 |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$201,200±$28kLowest 36% below VT |
| Sheldon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Sheldon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 21% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,355Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Lake Region Union High School |
| 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.