Compare towns
Sheffield vs Dorset 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).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k 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 | Dorset | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 573Lowest |
2,092 |
2,815Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
44.9±6.5 4% above VT |
| Dorset and Barton 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% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset 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% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Dorset 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% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Barton 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 |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$66,250±$16k 18% below VT |
| Dorset 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 |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$201,200±$28k 36% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $967±$79 22% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$3,355 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±41.2 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Sheffield 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% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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.