Compare towns
Barnard vs Bridgewater 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%).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Sharon has the most renters (20.3% rent).
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 | Bridgewater | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
980Lowest |
1,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Bridgewater 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% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest 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% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Barnard 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 |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% 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 |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% 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 |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below 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 |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest 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 | — | Sharon School District |
| High school 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.