Compare towns
Brownington vs Ryegate vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brownington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Ryegate has the most homeowners (84.7%).
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.
| Measure | Brownington | Ryegate | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,144 |
1,059Lowest |
1,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.5±4.5Lowest 6% below VT |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Sharon and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brownington and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brownington and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,556±$17k 7% below VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
| Sharon and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$40kLowest 39% below VT |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $745±$504Lowest 40% below VT |
$908±$236 26% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,912 22% below VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brownington and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.5% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
26 minLowest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sharon and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District | — | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.