Compare towns
Barnet vs Vernon vs Sheldon vs Peacham
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 affordable homes ($248k median).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
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 | Vernon | Sheldon | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
2,709Highest |
2,267 |
887Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
| Peacham and Barnet 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% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 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%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
| Peacham and Vernon 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 |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$302,000±$64kHighest 5% below VT |
| Peacham and Vernon 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 |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
| Sheldon and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 11% below VT |
$5,191 3% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Peacham and Barnet 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% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Barnet 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Vernon School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.