Compare towns
Sutton vs Highgate vs Wells 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Barton has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Highgate | Wells | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,148 |
2,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
44.9±6.5 4% above VT |
| Wells 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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Barton 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% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
32.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Wells 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 |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below VT |
| Highgate and Wells 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 |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$201,200±$28kLowest 36% below VT |
| Highgate and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Wells 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 |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$3,355 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 26% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
35 min 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Barton 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | 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.