Compare towns
Sharon vs Barnard vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the most renters (20.3% rent).
Barnard has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k 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 | Sharon | Barnard | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Highest |
1,211 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest 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+ | 25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below 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 | $346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Barnard and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Sharon and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 17% above VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ira and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% above VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.