Compare towns
Barnet vs Sharon vs Townshend
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).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Sharon | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
1,577 |
1,538Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend 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% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest 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% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Sharon and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Sharon and Townshend 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 |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Sharon and Townshend 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 |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | Sharon School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.