Compare towns
Sharon vs Castleton vs Brookfield 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%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Barnet has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Brookfield | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
4,453Highest |
1,486Lowest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnet and Brookfield 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% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest 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%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Barnet 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
| Brookfield 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
| Sharon and Brookfield 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 |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$974±$72Lowest 21% 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$4,489 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.