Compare towns
Brownington vs Sheffield vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brownington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Ryegate has the most people working from home (8.2%).
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 | Brownington | Sheffield | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,144Highest |
573Lowest |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.5±4.5Lowest 6% below VT |
42±8Highest about the VT average |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
| Sheffield and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Brownington and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ryegate and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
27.1% VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,556±$17kHighest 7% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$66,484±$15k 18% below VT |
| Brownington and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$40k 39% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$219,300±$32kHighest 31% below VT |
| Ryegate and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $745±$504Lowest 40% below VT |
$967±$79Highest 22% below VT |
$908±$236 26% below VT |
| Sheffield and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,912Highest 22% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$3,472 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brownington and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ryegate and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.