Compare towns
Barre vs Enosburgh vs Sheldon vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the highest household income ($93k).
Enosburgh has the most renters (24.3% rent).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Barre | Enosburgh | Sheldon | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
2,804 |
2,267Lowest |
4,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
| Derby and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Enosburgh and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,210±$9kHighest 15% above VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
| Barre and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13kHighest 11% below VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
| Barre and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
| Barre and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,737Highest 6% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Enosburgh and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
32 min 36% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Barre and Sheldon 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | #26 of 70 in VT | — | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.