Compare towns
Sutton vs Jay vs Sheffield 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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
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 | Jay | Sheffield | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
471Lowest |
573 |
2,815Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
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%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 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% |
19.2%±4 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Sheffield 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 |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$66,250±$16k 18% below VT |
| Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$201,200±$28k 36% below VT |
| Jay and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $967±$79Highest 22% below VT |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975Highest 21% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$3,355 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield 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% VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 26% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
35 min 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Lake Region Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.