Compare towns
Barnet vs Chester 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 most kids (21.6% under 18).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Chester | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855 |
2,992Highest |
1,577Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Chester and Barnet 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest 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%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15k 17% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% 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 |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 21% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 11% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
26 minLowest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.