Compare towns
Barnet vs Northfield 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).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Northfield | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855 |
5,920Highest |
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±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below 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% |
14.6%±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%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest 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% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
| Sharon and Northfield 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 |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
26 minLowest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnet and Sharon 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.