Compare towns
Sharon vs Castleton vs Braintree vs New Haven
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%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
New Haven has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Castleton | Braintree | New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
4,453Highest |
1,026Lowest |
1,792 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
48±3.9 11% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±4.4 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±2.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$92,321±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
| New Haven 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±$37k 10% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$379,300±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| New Haven and Sharon 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,163±$143 6% below VT |
| Sharon and New Haven 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$5,967Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
20.1%±6.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and New Haven 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.