Compare towns
Barnet vs Putney vs Brattleboro 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 oldest population (median age 47.7).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% 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.
| Measure | Barnet | Putney | Brattleboro | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
2,622 |
12,122Highest |
1,577Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Barnet and Brattleboro 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Brattleboro 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15k 17% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
| Sharon and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
| Sharon and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 21% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Putney 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% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brattleboro and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.