Compare towns
Berlin vs Putney vs Sharon vs Clarendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most homeowners (87.9%).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Clarendon has the most affordable homes ($221k 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.
| Measure | Berlin | Putney | Sharon | Clarendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
2,622 |
1,577Lowest |
2,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
52.3±4.1Highest 21% above VT |
| Clarendon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Clarendon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$59,609±$12kLowest 27% below VT |
| Berlin and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$220,900±$32kLowest 30% below VT |
| Sharon and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,096±$305 11% below VT |
| Sharon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$3,740Lowest 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±27.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Sharon School District | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Mill River Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.