Compare towns
Sheffield vs Northfield 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).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Barton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Northfield | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 573Lowest |
5,920Highest |
2,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8 about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% 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%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Northfield 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% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$71,768±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
$66,250±$16k 18% below VT |
| Northfield 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 |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$201,200±$28k 36% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $967±$79 22% below VT |
$1,018±$207Highest 18% below VT |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Northfield 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 |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,355 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±41.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Northfield 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Lake Region Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
10.5Highest |
| 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.