Compare towns
Barnard vs Putney vs Sharon vs Bridgewater
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 kids (26.9% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Putney | Sharon | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
2,622Highest |
1,577 |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest 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%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$850±$778 31% below 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Sharon School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.