Compare towns
Sutton vs Castleton vs Sharon vs Barton
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 homeowners (85%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($201k 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 | Castleton | Sharon | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,577 |
2,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Highest 8% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
44.9±6.5 4% above VT |
| Sutton and Sharon 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% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below VT |
| Sharon 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 |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$201,200±$28kLowest 36% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Sharon and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$3,355 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Barton 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% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Sharon 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Sharon School District | 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.