Compare towns
Sharon vs Bennington vs Barnet
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%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Barnet has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
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 | Bennington | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Lowest |
15,249Highest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnet 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% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Highest 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% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$67,386±$15k 17% below VT |
| Sharon and Barnet 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 |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington 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% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington and Barnet 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| 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.