Compare towns
Sutton vs Sheldon vs Bakersfield 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 oldest population (median age 46.6).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Bakersfield has the highest household income ($83k).
Barton 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.
| Measure | Sutton | Sheldon | Bakersfield | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790Lowest |
2,267 |
1,109 |
2,815Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Highest 8% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
46.4±8 8% above VT |
44.9±6.5 4% above VT |
| Sutton and Bakersfield 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Barton 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
$201,200±$28kLowest 36% below VT |
| Sheldon and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Sheldon and Bakersfield 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
$3,355Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
10.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Bakersfield 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.