Compare towns
Sutton vs Orwell vs Burke vs Sheffield
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Orwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Burke has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
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 | Orwell | Burke | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
1,294 |
1,317Highest |
573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
41.1±4.8Lowest 5% below VT |
42±8 about the VT average |
| Orwell 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% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Burke and Orwell 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% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Burke 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.3 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Orwell 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 |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
| Burke 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 |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Burke and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
$938±$191Lowest 24% below VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 21% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$5,177Highest about the VT average |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Orwell 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% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
88.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Burke and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.