Compare towns
Sutton vs Worcester vs Strafford vs Derby Line
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 youngest population (median age 46.6).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Derby Line has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
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 | Worcester | Strafford | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
831 |
1,372Highest |
783Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
46.7±13.3 8% above VT |
| Strafford and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Derby Line 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
24.9%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Line and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Strafford 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$71,518±$25k 12% below VT |
| Strafford and Worcester 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 |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$201,000±$52kLowest 37% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$835±$334Lowest 32% below VT |
| Strafford and Worcester 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,275Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
35.4%±24.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Sutton 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±9.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Strafford 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Strafford School District | — |
| 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.