Compare towns
Barnet vs Monroe vs Walden vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Monroe | Walden | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
786Lowest |
1,037 |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
51±10.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden 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±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$88,150±$7kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24k 25% below U.S. |
$312,700±$58k 6% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 31% below U.S. |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
| Sharon and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 44% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden 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 | Monroe School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 2 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.