Compare towns

Sutton vs Castleton vs Franklin vs Wheelock

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).

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.

MeasureSuttonCastletonFranklinWheelock
People
Population
790
4,453Highest
1,590
717Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-11.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-5.5%
VT: +2.8%
-3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-6.4%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.6±5.7
8% above VT
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
38.8±6.9
10% 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%±3.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.4
VT: 17.9%
23.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±3.5
VT: 17.9%
Franklin and Castleton 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%
20.7%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
15.3%±1.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.4%±4.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
37.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
21.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
34.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
7.5%±3.1
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,250±$18k
12% below VT
$73,854±$23k
9% below VT
$79,917±$21kHighest
about the VT average
$64,792±$20kLowest
20% below VT
Franklin and Castleton 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
$224,800±$71k
29% below VT
$247,400±$66kHighest
22% below VT
$189,600±$37kLowest
40% 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 —
$1,137±$195Highest
8% below VT
$891±$266Lowest
28% below VT
—
Castleton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,975Highest
21% below VT
$3,167
37% below VT
$3,384
33% below VT
$2,937Lowest
42% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.8%±31.1
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
45.5%±42.2
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Castleton and Franklin 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%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85%
VT: 73.2%
79%
VT: 73.2%
74.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
26% above VT
19 minLowest
17% below VT
25 min
8% above VT
28 min
17% above VT
Work from home
11.6%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
18.1%±4.7
VT: 16.9%
21.1%±16Highest
VT: 16.9%
Wheelock and Franklin 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 — #39 of 70 in VT — —
School district Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 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.