What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairlee	Sharon
People
Population	1,066Lowest	1,577Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT	45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT
	Fairlee and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	21%±5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Sharon and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%	25.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Fairlee and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Highest VT: 43.8%	37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7%	1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%
	Fairlee and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT	$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT
	Sharon and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT	$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT
	Sharon and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT	$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT
	Sharon and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,617Lowest 11% above VT	$5,903Highest 17% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4%	19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Fairlee and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.7%Highest VT: 10.1%	3%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 3% above VT	26 minHighest 12% above VT
Work from home	15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9%	12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Fairlee and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	Sharon School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.