Compare towns
Barnard vs Lowell vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Barnard | Lowell | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
1,070Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Highest about the VT average |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Barnard and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Lowell and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Barnard and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Barnard and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Barnard and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnard and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Lowell School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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 |
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.