Compare towns
Sutton vs Strafford vs Ira
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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 790 |
1,372Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Strafford 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Ira 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 |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Strafford and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Sutton 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 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.