Compare towns
Sharon vs Barnard vs Windsor vs Royalton
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 oldest population (median age 45.6).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Royalton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Windsor | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
1,211Lowest |
3,554Highest |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
| Sharon and Windsor 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% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Royalton 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±$19k 20% above VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton and Barnard 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 |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% 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 |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% 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 |
$5,209 3% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Royalton and Windsor 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1965 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Royalton 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 | — | — | #61 of 70 in VT | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Sharon School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.