Compare towns
Sutton vs Topsham vs Mendon 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 most renters (15% rent).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Newark has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Topsham | Mendon | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
999 |
1,113Highest |
727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Mendon and Topsham 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% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Newark and Topsham 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% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Topsham 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% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Mendon 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±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
| Mendon and Newark 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 |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$229,900±$23k 27% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
| Newark and Mendon 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 |
$4,006 21% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,771Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Mendon 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% |
18.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
34 min 44% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Topsham 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 | Waits River Union High District #36 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school 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.