Compare towns
Sutton vs Castleton vs West Fairlee vs Barton
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).
West Fairlee has the most homeowners (91.9%).
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 | Castleton | West Fairlee | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
4,453Highest |
711Lowest |
2,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.3±7.6Highest 17% above VT |
44.9±6.5 4% above VT |
| West Fairlee 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton 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%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee 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% VT: 43.8% |
44.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 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 |
$76,500±$16kHighest 6% below VT |
$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below VT |
| West Fairlee 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 |
$237,200±$35kHighest 25% below VT |
$201,200±$28kLowest 36% below VT |
| West Fairlee 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 |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Castleton and West Fairlee 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 |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
$3,355 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and West Fairlee 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% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 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 |
28 min 20% above VT |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Sutton 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 | Rivendell Interstate 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.