Compare towns
Barnard vs Sharon vs Bridgewater vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Sharon has the most renters (20.3% rent).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Sharon | Bridgewater | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
1,577 |
980Lowest |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Calais 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% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais 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±$19k 20% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Barnard 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 |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Barnard and Calais 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 |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Calais 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% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Barnard 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 | 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.