Compare towns

Sheffield vs Sheldon 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).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k 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.

MeasureSheffieldSheldonBarton
People
Population
573Lowest
2,267
2,815Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%
VT: +2.8%
+2.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42±8
about the VT average
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% 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%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
20.7%±3.8
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.2%±4
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
23.5%±3.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
Barton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.1%
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
32.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Lowest
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
$78,533±$25kHighest
3% below VT
$66,250±$16k
18% below VT
Sheldon 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
$272,400±$61kHighest
14% below VT
$201,200±$28k
36% below VT
Sheldon and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$967±$79
22% below VT
$1,286±$379Highest
4% above VT
$793±$70Lowest
36% below VT
Sheldon 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
$3,578Highest
29% below VT
$3,355
33% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.5%±41.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
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%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
10.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%
VT: 73.2%
89%Highest
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
25 minLowest
7% above VT
35 minHighest
50% above VT
Work from home
6.1%±2.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
13.4%±5.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Barton and Sheldon 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 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 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.