Compare towns
Sutton vs Halifax vs Middlebury vs Wheelock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Middlebury has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Halifax | Middlebury | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
847 |
9,175Highest |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
| Wheelock 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Wheelock 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% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Halifax 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% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
| Middlebury 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 |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,156±$113Highest 6% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 21% below VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Middlebury 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% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Wheelock 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 | — | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Halifax School District | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.