Compare towns
Sutton vs Brandon vs Wells
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 youngest population (median age 46.6).
Brandon has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Brandon | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 790Lowest |
4,120Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Wells and Brandon 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% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Brandon 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% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wells and Brandon 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 |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
| Wells and Sutton 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 |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
| Wells and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Brandon 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 |
$4,241Highest 16% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Sutton and Wells 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.