What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).

North Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barnard	North Hero
People
Population	1,211Lowest	1,263Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+16.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.4±6Lowest about the VT average	54.2±6.7Highest 26% above VT
	North Hero and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%	16.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%	27.3%±4Highest VT: 21.4%
	North Hero 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%	47.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7%	5.5%±2.6Highest VT: 7%
	North Hero 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±$19kLowest 20% above VT	$102,143±$24kHighest 26% above VT
	North Hero 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±$71kLowest 27% above VT	$451,400±$66kHighest 43% above VT
	North Hero and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,372±$80Lowest 11% above VT	$1,556±$360Highest 26% above VT
	North Hero and Barnard 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	$5,132Lowest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	56.3%±98.1Highest VT: 48.4%
	North Hero 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%	7.3%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%	96.3%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 21% above VT	30 minHighest 28% above VT
Work from home	19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9%	15.4%±8.8Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Barnard and North Hero 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	Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.