Compare towns

Barnet vs Sheldon vs Waterford

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 most renters (20.1% rent).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Waterford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).

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.

MeasureBarnetSheldonWaterford
People
Population
1,855
2,267Highest
1,279Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%
VT: +2.8%
-0.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.7±5.3Highest
11% above VT
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% below VT
45.4±5.3
5% above VT
Barnet and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.6%±4.9
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.7%±2.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Barnet 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%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.4%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.6%
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
41%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Highest
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$67,386±$15kLowest
17% below VT
$78,533±$25k
3% below VT
$109,375±$19kHighest
35% above VT
Waterford 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±$24kLowest
22% below VT
$272,400±$61kHighest
14% below VT
$271,500±$22k
14% below VT
Sheldon and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$974±$72Lowest
21% 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
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
$4,238
16% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.3%±29.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
—
Below poverty line
8.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89%
VT: 73.2%
99%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
17% above VT
25 min
7% above VT
24 minLowest
4% above VT
Work from home
13.3%±4.5
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
15.3%±7.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
Waterford 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 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78
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.