Compare towns
Barnard vs Bethel vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Sharon has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Barnard | Bethel | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
1,736Highest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Bethel and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bethel and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Barnard and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$75,822±$7kLowest 7% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Barnard and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Barnard and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,335±$220Lowest 8% above VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$5,168Lowest about the VT average |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
26 minLowest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | White River Unified School District #79 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.