Compare towns
Sutton vs Jay vs Middlebury vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Middlebury has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Barton has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Jay | Middlebury | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
471Lowest |
9,175Highest |
2,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
44.9±6.5 4% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest 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%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barton 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% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below VT |
| Middlebury and Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$201,200±$28kLowest 36% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,156±$113Highest 6% below VT |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 21% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$3,355Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury and Jay 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% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
35 min 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Middlebury 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 | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | Lake Region Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6Highest |
10.5Lowest |
| 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.