What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethel has the most expensive homes ($238k median).

Sheffield has the most kids (17.1% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bethel	Sheffield
People
Population	1,736Highest	573Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-3%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT	42±8Lowest about the VT average
	Bethel and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9%	17.1%±6.6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Sheffield and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4%	19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Bethel and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.7%Highest VT: 43.8%	27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7%
	Sheffield and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,822±$7kHighest 7% below VT	$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT
	Bethel and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$238,000±$41kHighest 25% below VT	$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT
	Bethel and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT	$967±$79Lowest 22% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,168Highest about the VT average	$2,123Lowest 58% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±22Lowest VT: 48.4%	61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4%
	Sheffield and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	83.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT	1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 19% above VT	30 minHighest 28% above VT
Work from home	7.1%±3.1Highest VT: 16.9%	6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Bethel and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	White River Unified School District #79	Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.