Compare towns
Fayston vs Barnard vs South Hero
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fayston has the most homeowners (87%).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
South Hero has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Fayston | Barnard | South Hero |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,342 |
1,211Lowest |
1,586Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.9±3.5 9% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT |
| South Hero and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.8%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| South Hero and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
61.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Fayston and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,250±$28k 36% above VT |
$97,581±$19kLowest 20% above VT |
$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT |
| South Hero and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $502,400±$82k 59% above VT |
$402,600±$71kLowest 27% above VT |
$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT |
| South Hero and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$274Highest 34% above VT |
$1,372±$80Lowest 11% above VT |
$1,439±$221 17% above VT |
| Fayston and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,689 33% above VT |
$6,038Lowest 20% above VT |
$7,858Highest 56% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±27.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
32.6%±21Highest VT: 48.4% |
| South Hero and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
85.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 25% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.2%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| South Hero and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | South Hero School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.