Compare towns
Sutton vs Fair Haven vs Sheldon 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 oldest population (median age 46.6).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
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 | Fair Haven | Sheldon | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790Lowest |
2,724 |
2,267 |
2,815Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Highest 8% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
44.9±6.5 4% above VT |
| Sutton and Barton 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% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barton 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven and Barton 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 |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$66,250±$16k 18% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$201,200±$28k 36% below VT |
| Sheldon and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $830±$116 33% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Sheldon and Fair Haven 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 |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,355Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven 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% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Sheldon 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 | — | #66 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | Lake Region Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.