Compare towns
Barnard vs Sharon vs Bridgewater vs Royalton
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).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Royalton has the most renters (36.5% 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 | Sharon | Bridgewater | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
1,577 |
980Lowest |
2,752Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
43.9±10.1 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% |
14.4%±5.8 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% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
42.6% 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% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Royalton 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 |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton 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 |
$263,200±$73k 17% 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 |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% 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 |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,675 7% below 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% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Royalton 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% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Royalton 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 | — | — | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Sharon School District | — | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.