Compare towns
Barnard vs Shelburne vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Westford has the most homeowners (86.1%).
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 | Barnard | Shelburne | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
7,969Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Shelburne and Westford 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% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Shelburne 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% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne 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% VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Westford and Shelburne 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 |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$112,750±$12k 39% above VT |
| Shelburne and Westford 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 |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$424,500±$21k 34% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Lowest 11% above VT |
$1,442±$589 17% above VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Lowest 20% above VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Shelburne and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Barnard 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 | — | #8 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.