Compare towns
Bristol vs Sharon vs Barnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most people working from home (17.9%).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k 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 | Bristol | Sharon | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
1,577Lowest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
| Bristol and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Highest 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+ | 21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest 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+ | 41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
| Sharon and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
| Sharon and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181 3% above VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
| Sharon and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol and Barnet 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 | #31 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Sharon School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.