Compare towns
Sharon vs Bridgewater vs Castleton vs Cavendish
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%).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Cavendish has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Bridgewater | Castleton | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
980Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Sharon 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% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Castleton 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% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above 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 |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% 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 |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
| Sharon and Castleton 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 |
$3,418 32% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,948 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Bridgewater 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 min 17% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish and Sharon 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.