Compare towns
Sutton vs Sheldon vs Ira vs Leicester
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 most affordable homes ($231k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Leicester has the most expensive homes ($310k 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 | Sheldon | Ira | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
2,267Highest |
381Lowest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -10% 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 |
48.8±3.8 13% above VT |
| Ira and Leicester 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% |
14.9%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Leicester 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% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Sutton 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 |
$70,417±$30kLowest 13% 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±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$309,700±$107kHighest about the VT average |
| Leicester and Ira 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±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,098±$300 11% below VT |
| Sheldon and Leicester 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
$3,822 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±40.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Sutton and Ira 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% |
11.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Leicester 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | — |
| High school 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.