Compare towns
Sheffield vs Calais vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Barton has the most renters (26.1% rent).
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 | Sheffield | Calais | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 573Lowest |
1,713 |
2,815Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8Lowest about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.9±6.5Highest 4% above VT |
| Barton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$66,250±$16k 18% below VT |
| Calais and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$201,200±$28k 36% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $967±$79 22% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Calais and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,355 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
10.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 28% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lake Region Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.