What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Hero has the most expensive homes ($558k median).

Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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	South Hero	Barnard
People
Population	1,586Highest	1,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT	42.4±6Lowest about the VT average
	South Hero and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9%	26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	26.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4%	22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	South Hero and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	55.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.2Highest VT: 7%	2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7%
	South Hero and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT	$97,581±$19kLowest 20% above VT
	South Hero and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT	$402,600±$71kLowest 27% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$221Highest 17% above VT	$1,372±$80Lowest 11% above VT
	South Hero and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,858Highest 56% above VT	$6,038Lowest 20% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.6%±21Highest VT: 48.4%	27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4%
	South Hero and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.5%Highest VT: 10.1%	2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	85.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT	1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 4% above VT	29 minHighest 21% above VT
Work from home	26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9%	19.3%±10.8Lowest VT: 16.9%
	South Hero and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	South Hero School District	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.