What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

Bakersfield has the most affordable homes ($271k 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.

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

Measure	Sharon	Bakersfield
People
Population	1,577Highest	1,109Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT	46.4±8Highest 8% above VT
	Bakersfield and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest VT: 17.9%	13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Sharon and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4%	21.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Sharon and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%	39.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%	7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT	$83,462±$18kLowest about the VT average
	Sharon and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT	$271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT	$1,200±$327Lowest about the VT average
	Sharon and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,903Highest 17% above VT	$3,823Lowest 24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Highest VT: 48.4%	18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Sharon and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Lowest VT: 10.1%	7.3%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	94%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 12% above VT	33 minHighest 40% above VT
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	14.2%±7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Bakersfield and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Sharon School District	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
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.