Compare towns
Barnet vs Franklin vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Barnet | Franklin | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855 |
1,590Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Barnet and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Franklin and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 21% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Highest 11% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | 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.


