What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shelby has the most people working from home (12.5%).

Barre has the most kids (24.4% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Shelby	Barre
People
Population	4,858Highest	1,910Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45±3.2Lowest 13% above NY	45.2±6.7Highest 14% above NY
	Barre and Shelby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	24.4%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Barre and Shelby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±3.5Highest NY: 17.9%	20.7%±2.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Shelby and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	13%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.8Highest NY: 7%	0.9%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Shelby and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,655±$14kLowest 24% below NY	$73,906±$14kHighest 14% below NY
	Barre and Shelby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$136,000±$29kHighest 68% below NY	$135,900±$28kLowest 68% below NY
	Shelby and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$788±$214Lowest 51% below NY	$1,158±$208Highest 29% below NY
	Barre and Shelby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,903Highest 41% below NY	$3,466Lowest 47% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.9%±12.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	60.7%±35.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Barre and Shelby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.5%Lowest NY: 14%	23.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	87.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1943Highest 16 yrs older than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 19% below NY	21 minLowest 36% below NY
Work from home	12.5%±5.3Highest NY: 14.9%	6.5%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Shelby and Barre 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	#401 of 484 in NY	—
School district	MEDINA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	MEDINA JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.