Compare towns
Sharon vs Barnet vs Reading vs Strafford
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 people working from home (22.9%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
1,855Highest |
699Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% 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 |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford 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%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Barnet 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% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Reading 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Reading 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±$19k 5% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Reading 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Sharon and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% 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% |
44.6%±48 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest 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 |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District |
| 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.