Compare towns
Sutton vs Strafford vs Highgate vs Newark
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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
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 | Strafford | Highgate | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
1,372 |
3,528Highest |
727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Strafford 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Newark 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
| Strafford and Highgate 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
| Newark and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,771 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Highgate 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 | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Strafford School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.