Compare towns
Sutton vs Townsend vs Burke vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 46.6).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Burke has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($201k 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 | Townsend | Burke | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790Lowest |
9,100Highest |
1,317 |
2,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.1±4.8 6% above U.S. |
44.9±6.5 15% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Burke and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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±$18k 12% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$87,143±$17k 8% above U.S. |
$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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 31% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$340,600±$18k about the U.S. average |
$201,200±$28kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$938±$191 34% below U.S. |
$793±$70Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 27% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,177 66% above U.S. |
$3,355Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.6%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Burke and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Burke and Barton 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | North Middlesex | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Lake Region Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
— | 10.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.