Compare towns
Barnet vs Plainfield vs Ripton 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).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sharon has the youngest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Plainfield | Ripton | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
1,314 |
508Lowest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Ripton 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Ripton 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
— | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.