Compare towns
Barton vs Colrain vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Colrain has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
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 | Barton | Colrain | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,815Highest |
1,627 |
573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±6.5 15% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
42±8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sheffield and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,250±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,200±$28k 40% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$171,900±$50kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $793±$70Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$967±$79 32% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,355 8% above U.S. |
$4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$2,123Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.6%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.5%±41.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sheffield and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton and Colrain 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 | Mohawk Trail | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | Lake Region Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.