Compare towns
Lowell vs Barnard vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Lowell | Barnard | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070Lowest |
1,211 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
42.4±6Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Barnard and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Lowell and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Barnard and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Barnard and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Barnard and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnard and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lowell School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None 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.