Compare towns
North Bennington vs Randolph vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Bennington has the youngest population (median age 43.9).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | North Bennington | Randolph | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,336Lowest |
2,007Highest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10Lowest about the VT average |
50.5±7.7Highest 17% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Randolph and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11%±5 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.2%±4.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| North Bennington and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% VT: 43.8% |
42.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
7.3%±4.7 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,571±$10kLowest 16% below VT |
$75,069±$11k 8% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
| Sharon and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $313,000±$40k about the VT average |
$235,400±$25kLowest 26% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
| Sharon and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT |
$1,095±$198Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
| North Bennington and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,590 11% above VT |
$4,507Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±26.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.3%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.4% VT: 73.2% |
53.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 19 yrs older than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Randolph and North Bennington 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.