Compare towns
Barnet vs Pittsfield vs Reading 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).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
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 | Pittsfield | Reading | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
391Lowest |
699 |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Pittsfield and Reading 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% |
13.6%±8.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 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%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pittsfield 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% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Pittsfield 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 |
$65,852±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Reading and Sharon 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 |
$313,300±$73k about the VT average |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Reading and Sharon 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 |
$1,035±$140 16% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,181 about the VT average |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pittsfield and Reading 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.