What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheffield has the most kids (34.7% under 18).

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

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	Sheffield	Ryegate
People
Population	190Lowest	1,059Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-0.8% VT: +2.8%
Median age	32.5±2.3Lowest 25% below VT	41.2±2.6Highest 4% below VT
Kids under 18	34.7%±13.7Highest VT: 17.9%	23.2%±4.6Lowest 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+	13.2%±14Lowest 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+	16.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%	29.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±5.8Lowest VT: 7%	2.4%±1.4Highest 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	$65,795±$12kLowest 19% below VT	$66,484±$15kHighest 18% 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	$122,700±$70kLowest 61% below VT	$219,300±$32kHighest 31% 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	$1,219±$563Highest about the VT average	$908±$236Lowest 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	$1,714Lowest 66% below VT	$3,472Highest 31% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	55.9%±29.7Highest 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	8.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%	14.5%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT	1949Highest 27 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 12% below VT	28 minHighest 18% above VT
Work from home	8.6%±6.3Highest VT: 16.9%	8.2%±3.7Lowest 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 History	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.