Compare towns
Barnet vs Whitingham vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Whitingham | Strafford | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
1,368Lowest |
1,372 |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Strafford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Barnet 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Whitingham 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 |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 21% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Strafford 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 |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Strafford School District | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | 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.