Compare towns
Sutton vs Essex vs Leicester
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 affordable homes ($231k median).
Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.8%).
Leicester has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
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 | Essex | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 790Lowest |
11,516Highest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-10% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
48.8±3.8Highest 13% above VT |
| Leicester 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% |
22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex and Sutton 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% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Leicester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
57.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Essex and Sutton 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 |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT |
$70,417±$30kLowest 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT |
$309,700±$107k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT |
$1,098±$300Lowest 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 21% below VT |
$6,602Highest 31% above VT |
$3,822Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Essex and Sutton 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Essex and Leicester 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 | — | #13 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.