Compare towns
Barnard vs Lowell vs Sheldon vs Royalton
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).
Royalton has the most renters (36.5% 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 | Barnard | Lowell | Sheldon | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
1,070Lowest |
2,267 |
2,752Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
43.9±10.1Highest about the VT average |
| Royalton and Barnard 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%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest 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%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Royalton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton and Barnard 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 |
$263,200±$73k 17% 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 |
$1,040±$391 16% below 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 |
$4,675 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Royalton and Barnard 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Royalton 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 | — | — | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Lowell School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.