Compare towns
Sheffield vs Dover 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Barton has the most kids (20.7% 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.
| Measure | Sheffield | Dover | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 573Lowest |
1,466 |
2,815Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8Lowest about the VT average |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
44.9±6.5 4% above VT |
| Dover and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Sheffield 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Barton 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest 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±$26k 28% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$66,250±$16kHighest 18% below VT |
| Barton and Sheffield 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 |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$201,200±$28k 36% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $967±$79Highest 22% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$793±$70 36% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$3,355 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Barton 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
10.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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.