Compare towns
Sutton vs Sheldon vs Ira vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Barton has the most renters (26.1% rent).
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 | Ira | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
2,267 |
381Lowest |
2,815Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
44.9±6.5 4% above VT |
| Ira 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%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% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Ira 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±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below VT |
| Sheldon and Ira 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±$61k 14% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$201,200±$28kLowest 36% below VT |
| Ira and Sheldon 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 |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Sheldon and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 21% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,146Highest 18% 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% |
36.4%±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% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%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 |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Sheldon 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 | — | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 |
| High school 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.