Compare towns
Sutton vs Topsham vs Walden 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 renters (15% rent).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Walden has the most homeowners (93.8%).
Burke has the most expensive homes ($341k 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 | Topsham | Walden | Burke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790Lowest |
999 |
1,037 |
1,317Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
41.1±4.8Lowest 5% below VT |
| Topsham and Walden 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% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Burke 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%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham 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% VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Walden and Burke 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 |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$87,143±$17k 7% above VT |
| Walden and Burke 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 |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $908±$398 26% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$938±$191Highest 24% below VT |
| Burke and Topsham 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 |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,177Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Burke 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Burke and Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | 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.