Compare towns

Sutton vs Highgate vs Walden

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 kids (17.3% under 18).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Walden 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.

MeasureSuttonHighgateWalden
People
Population
790Lowest
3,528Highest
1,037
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-11.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-1.8%
VT: +2.8%
+2.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.6±5.7
8% above VT
44±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
48.8±3.2Highest
13% above VT
Walden and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.3%±3.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.8%±5.3
VT: 17.9%
14.3%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Sutton and Highgate 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%
22.2%±5.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.4%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Highgate 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%
19.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
26.4%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
2.6%±2.1
VT: 7%
4%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
Walden and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,250±$18kLowest
12% below VT
$81,017±$14k
about the VT average
$88,000±$15kHighest
8% above VT
Walden and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$231,100±$41kLowest
27% below VT
$280,500±$21kHighest
11% below VT
$238,900±$23k
25% below VT
Highgate and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$895±$691Lowest
27% below VT
$900±$136Highest
27% below VT
Walden and Highgate 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
$3,558Lowest
29% below VT
$3,944
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.8%±31.1
VT: 48.4%
30.5%±11.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
56.3%±86.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
Walden 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%
8.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85%
VT: 73.2%
80.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
3 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
26% above VT
31 minHighest
32% above VT
26 minLowest
10% above VT
Work from home
11.6%±5.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
14.9%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
21.4%±6.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Walden 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 —
School district Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Missisquoi Valley School District #89 Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78
High school in town None in town Missisquoi Valley Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.8
—
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.