Compare towns
Barnet vs Bennington vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Barnet | Bennington | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855 |
15,249Highest |
1,577Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15k 17% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
| Sharon and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington and Barnet 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.