Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Hartford vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Bridgewater | Hartford | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Lowest |
10,736Highest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
| Sharon and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
| Sharon and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Hartford 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Hartford School District | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | — | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.