What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k median).

Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.8%).

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	Essex
People
Population	1,577Lowest	11,516Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT	42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average
	Sharon and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Lowest VT: 17.9%	22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Essex and Sharon 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%	19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Sharon and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%	57.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%	2.8%±1.2Highest VT: 7%
	Essex 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	$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT
	Essex 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±$37kLowest 10% above VT	$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$155Lowest 12% above VT	$1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT
	Essex and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,903Lowest 17% above VT	$6,602Highest 31% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	45.9%±13.1Highest VT: 48.4%
	Essex and Sharon 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%	5%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT	1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 12% above VT	22 minLowest 6% below VT
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	21.5%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9%
	Essex 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	—	#13 of 70 in VT
School district	Sharon School District	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.