Compare towns
Sheffield vs Halifax vs Ryegate
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).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Ryegate has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Halifax | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 573Lowest |
847 |
1,059Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8Highest about the VT average |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
| Sheffield and Ryegate 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Ryegate 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% |
22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Ryegate 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% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Ryegate 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 |
$63,889±$7k 21% below VT |
$66,484±$15kHighest 18% below VT |
| Ryegate and Halifax 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 |
$267,500±$21kHighest 16% below VT |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
| Halifax and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $967±$79Highest 22% below VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$908±$236 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 | $2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$3,472 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Halifax School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.