Compare towns
Barnet vs Jay vs Richford vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
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 | Jay | Richford | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
471Lowest |
2,467Highest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
39±3.6Lowest 10% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Jay and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Richford and Barnet 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Sharon 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Richford and Jay 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
| Sharon and Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
— | $1,160±$66 6% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 11% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Richford 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
26 minLowest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.