Compare towns
Barnard vs Randolph 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 people working from home (19.3%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Randolph | Sharon | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
4,843Highest |
1,577 |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% 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% |
17.3%±4.4 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%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 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% |
40.8% 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% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Bridgewater 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 |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$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 |
$278,700±$38k 12% 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 |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$850±$778Lowest 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 |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Randolph 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%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 |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Randolph 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Sharon School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.