Compare towns
Putney vs Sharon vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sharon has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% 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 | Putney | Sharon | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
1,577 |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Sharon and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| Barnard and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Barnard and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
| Sharon and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Sharon School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None 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.