Compare towns
Barton vs Vernon 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 people working from home (16.5%).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Vernon | Sheldon | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730Lowest |
2,709Highest |
2,267 |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
42.6±5.4Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
| Vernon 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% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest 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%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
26.6%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% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Orleans and Vernon 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 |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
| Vernon 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 |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$156,300±$18k 51% below VT |
| Vernon and Sheldon 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 |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$810±$94 34% below VT |
| Sheldon and Vernon 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 |
$5,191Highest 3% above 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% |
26.2%±3.7 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% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 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 |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Barton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | #30 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Vernon School District | 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.