Compare towns
Barton vs Bakersfield vs Sheldon vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Bakersfield has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).
Orleans has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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 | Bakersfield | Sheldon | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730Lowest |
1,109 |
2,267Highest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
24.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$156,300±$18k 51% below VT |
| Sheldon and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,200±$327 about the VT average |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$810±$94 34% below VT |
| Sheldon and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 37% below VT |
$3,823Highest 24% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Bakersfield 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school 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.