Compare towns

Sheffield vs Hancock 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 homeowners (83.7%).
Hancock has the youngest population (median age 33.8).
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.

MeasureSheffieldHancockBarton
People
Population
573
435Lowest
2,815Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
+2.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42±8
about the VT average
33.8±11.6Lowest
22% below VT
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%
17.2%±5.8
VT: 17.9%
20.7%±3.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
Barton and Hancock 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%
19.8%±3.6
VT: 21.4%
23.5%±3.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
Barton and Hancock 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%
34.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.6
VT: 7%
2.9%±1.5Lowest
VT: 7%
Sheffield and Hancock 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
$76,250±$34kHighest
6% below VT
$66,250±$16k
18% below VT
Hancock 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
$187,900±$11k
41% below VT
$201,200±$28kHighest
36% below VT
Barton and Hancock 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
$939±$19
24% below VT
$793±$70Lowest
36% below VT
Sheffield and Hancock 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
$3,511Highest
30% below VT
$3,355
33% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.5%±41.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
3.5%±16.9Lowest
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%
VT: 10.1%
5.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
10.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
59.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
73.9%
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
28 minLowest
17% above VT
35 minHighest
50% above VT
Work from home
6.1%±2.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
11.7%±5
VT: 16.9%
13.4%±5.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Barton and Hancock 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 — Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24
High school 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.