Compare towns
Sutton vs Fairlee vs Newfane vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Fairlee | Newfane | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790Lowest |
1,066 |
1,456 |
2,815Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
44.9±6.5Lowest 4% above VT |
| Fairlee and Newfane 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% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Newfane 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% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee 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 |
$74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below VT |
| Fairlee 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 |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$284,200±$49kHighest 10% below VT |
$201,200±$28kLowest 36% below VT |
| Newfane and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Newfane and 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 |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$3,355Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Newfane 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
10.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Fairlee 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 | — | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Rivendell Interstate School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | 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.