Compare towns

Barnet vs Swanton 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).
Swanton has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($347k median).

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.

MeasureBarnetSwantonSharon
People
Population
1,855
6,820Highest
1,577Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+4.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+3.9%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.7±5.3Highest
11% above VT
43.7±5.5Lowest
about the VT average
45.6±7.7
6% above VT
Barnet and Sharon 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%
20.7%±4.7Lowest
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%
19.5%±3.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.1%±3.6
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%
VT: 43.8%
23.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
37.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
3%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
1.5%±0.9
VT: 7%
Swanton and Sharon 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
$81,371±$14k
about the VT average
$84,375±$17kHighest
4% above VT
Sharon and Swanton 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
$285,100±$35k
10% below VT
$346,700±$37kHighest
10% above VT
Sharon and Swanton 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
$1,257±$133
about the VT average
$1,386±$155Highest
12% above VT
Sharon and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,489
11% below VT
$4,449Lowest
12% below VT
$5,903Highest
17% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.3%±29.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
32.7%±14.2
VT: 48.4%
19.8%±17.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Barnet and Swanton 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%
13%Highest
VT: 10.1%
3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
77.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
17% above VT
23 minLowest
about the VT average
26 min
12% above VT
Work from home
13.3%±4.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.1%±3.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.7%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
Barnet and Sharon 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 — #27 of 70 in VT —
School district Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 Missisquoi Valley School District #89 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

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.