What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ryegate has the most expensive homes ($219k median).

Sheffield has the most kids (34.7% 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	Ryegate	Sheffield
People
Population	1,059Highest	190Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	41.2±2.6Highest 4% below VT	32.5±2.3Lowest 25% below VT
Kids under 18	23.2%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9%	34.7%±13.7Highest VT: 17.9%
	Sheffield and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±1.5Highest VT: 21.4%	13.2%±14Lowest 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+	29.1%Highest VT: 43.8%	16.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.4Highest VT: 7%	2.1%±5.8Lowest VT: 7%
	Ryegate and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,484±$15kHighest 18% below VT	$65,795±$12kLowest 19% below VT
	Ryegate and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$219,300±$32kHighest 31% below VT	$122,700±$70kLowest 61% below VT
	Ryegate and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT	$1,219±$563Highest about the VT average
	Sheffield and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,472Highest 31% below VT	$1,714Lowest 66% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4%	36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Ryegate and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.5%Highest VT: 10.1%	8.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	85.3%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1949Highest 27 yrs older than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 18% above VT	21 minLowest 12% below VT
Work from home	8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	8.6%±6.3Highest VT: 16.9%
	Sheffield and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.