Compare towns
Sharon vs Barnet vs Reading vs Pomfret
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
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 | Barnet | Reading | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
1,855Highest |
699Lowest |
908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
| Pomfret and Reading 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% |
21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Pomfret and Barnet 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% |
35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
58%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Sharon 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 |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$84,229±$8k 4% above VT |
| Reading 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 |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$399,200±$144kHighest 26% above VT |
| Pomfret and Reading 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 |
$974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,170±$98 5% below VT |
| Sharon and Pomfret 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 |
$4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$6,722Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Barnet 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1970 6 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Sharon School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.