Compare towns
Sutton vs Strafford vs Williston vs Burke
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 oldest population (median age 51.4).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Burke has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
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 | Williston | Burke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790Lowest |
1,372 |
10,144Highest |
1,317 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
41.1±4.8Lowest 5% 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%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Burke 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Strafford 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$87,143±$17k 7% above VT |
| Strafford and Williston 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 |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$340,600±$18k 8% above VT |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$938±$191Lowest 24% below VT |
| Williston and Strafford 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 |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,177 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Williston 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Burke and Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Strafford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.