Compare towns
Sutton vs Walden vs Sheldon vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Barton has the most renters (26.1% rent).
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 | Walden | Sheldon | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790Lowest |
1,037 |
2,267 |
2,815Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
44.9±6.5 4% above VT |
| Walden and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Barton 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% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Walden and Barton 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 |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below VT |
| Walden and Sheldon 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 |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$201,200±$28kLowest 36% below VT |
| Sheldon and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Sheldon and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975Highest 21% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,355Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Barton 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | — | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Lake Region Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.