Compare towns
Sharon vs Braintree vs Cavendish vs Whitingham
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%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Whitingham has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Braintree | Cavendish | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577Highest |
1,026Lowest |
1,242 |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Whitingham 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% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Whitingham 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% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cavendish and Whitingham 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 |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Cavendish 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 |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Sharon and Cavendish 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 |
$840±$405 32% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Sharon and Cavendish 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 |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Braintree 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Sharon School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.