Compare towns
Sutton vs Strafford vs Townshend vs Wheelock
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 youngest population (median age 46.6).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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 | Strafford | Townshend | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
1,372 |
1,538Highest |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
| Townshend 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Wheelock 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Wheelock 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Strafford and Townshend 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 |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
— |
| Strafford and Townshend 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 |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Wheelock 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
— |
| 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.