What stands out worked out from the figures below

Starksboro has the most affordable homes ($288k 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	Starksboro	Barnard
People
Population	1,939Highest	1,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT	42.4±6Highest about the VT average
	Barnard and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9%	26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Barnard and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4%	22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4%
	Barnard and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%	55.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.9Highest VT: 7%	2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7%
	Starksboro and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,188±$15kLowest about the VT average	$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT
	Barnard and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$287,700±$42kLowest 9% below VT	$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,306±$91Lowest 6% above VT	$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT
	Barnard and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,536Lowest 10% below VT	$6,038Highest 20% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.6%±26.3Highest VT: 48.4%	27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Starksboro and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Highest VT: 10.1%	2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT	1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 24% above VT	29 minLowest 21% above VT
Work from home	18.5%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9%
	Barnard and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61	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.