Compare towns
Barnet vs Ripton vs Whitingham 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).
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 | Ripton | Whitingham | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
508Lowest |
1,368 |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 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% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Ripton 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below 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±$72 21% below VT |
— | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.