Compare towns

Barnet vs Ludlow 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 affordable homes ($248k median).
Ludlow has the most renters (48.6% rent).
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.

MeasureBarnetLudlowSharon
People
Population
1,855Highest
808Lowest
1,577
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
48.7±5.6Highest
13% above VT
45.6±7.7Lowest
6% above VT
Ludlow 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%
13.1%±3.7Lowest
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%
30.4%±0.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
25.1%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Ludlow 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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
39.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
37.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
2.6%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
1.5%±0.9
VT: 7%
Ludlow 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
$56,667±$19kLowest
30% 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±$24kLowest
22% below VT
$304,000±$32k
4% below VT
$346,700±$37kHighest
10% above VT
Sharon and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$974±$72Lowest
21% below VT
$1,018±$91
18% below VT
$1,386±$155Highest
12% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,489
11% below VT
$4,237Lowest
16% below VT
$5,903Highest
17% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.3%±29.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
33%±13.8
VT: 48.4%
19.8%±17.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Barnet and Ludlow 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%Highest
VT: 10.1%
3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
51.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
17% above VT
21 minLowest
10% below VT
26 min
12% above VT
Work from home
13.3%±4.5
VT: 16.9%
17.3%±6.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.7%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Ludlow 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 — Sharon School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.