Compare towns
Sutton vs Franklin vs Highgate 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%).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k 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 | Franklin | Highgate | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790Lowest |
1,590 |
3,528Highest |
2,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Highest 8% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
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%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin 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% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Highgate 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% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Franklin 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 |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below VT |
| Highgate and Franklin 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 |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$201,200±$28kLowest 36% below VT |
| Highgate and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $891±$266 28% below VT |
$895±$691Highest 27% below VT |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Highgate and Franklin 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 |
$3,384 33% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,355Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Barton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Highgate 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 | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Lake Region Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.5Highest |
| 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.