What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).

Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sharon	Bolton
People
Population	1,577Highest	1,163Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT	36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT
	Sharon and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest VT: 17.9%	14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Sharon and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4%	6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%	58.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%	2.7%±1.8Highest VT: 7%
	Bolton 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±$17kLowest 4% above VT	$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT
	Bolton 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±$37kHighest 10% above VT	$311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average
	Sharon and Bolton 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	$1,299±$273Lowest 5% above VT
	Sharon and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,903Highest 17% above VT	$4,826Lowest 4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	28%±30.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Bolton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Highest VT: 10.1%	2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	81.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT	1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 12% above VT	28 minHighest 17% above VT
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Bolton 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	Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.