Compare towns
Sutton vs Wheelock vs Middlebury vs Newark
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Newark has the most kids (22% under 18).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wheelock | Middlebury | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
717Lowest |
9,175Highest |
727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
41.4±6 4% below VT |
| Wheelock 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% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Newark and Wheelock 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% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
$72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
| Middlebury 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 |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$229,900±$23k 27% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,156±$113Lowest 6% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 21% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$3,771 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury and Sutton 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% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Middlebury 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 | — | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Middlebury Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.