Compare towns
Sheffield vs White River Junction 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).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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.
| Measure | Sheffield | White River Junction | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 573Lowest |
3,364Highest |
2,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 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% |
17.1%±5Lowest 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%±4 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
$66,250±$16k 18% below VT |
| White River Junction 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 |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$201,200±$28k 36% below VT |
| White River Junction 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 |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| White River Junction 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$3,355 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and White River Junction 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% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction and Barton 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.