Compare towns
Sheffield vs Washington 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).
Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Washington | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 573Lowest |
1,056 |
1,059Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8 about the VT average |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Washington 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% |
16.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate 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% |
24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Washington 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% |
31%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Washington 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 |
$66,103±$8k 19% below VT |
$66,484±$15kHighest 18% below VT |
| Ryegate and Washington 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 |
$217,700±$37k 31% below VT |
$219,300±$32kHighest 31% below VT |
| Ryegate and Washington 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 |
$996±$285Highest 19% below VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
| Washington 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 |
$3,485Highest 31% below VT |
$3,472 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Ryegate 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% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Washington and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — |
| 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.