Compare towns
Sharon vs Fair Haven vs Barnet 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%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Barnet has the most people working from home (13.3%).
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 | Fair Haven | Barnet | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
2,724Highest |
1,855 |
1,368Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Barnet and Whitingham 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% |
19.4%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 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% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven 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±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$67,386±$15k 17% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
| Sharon and Whitingham 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 |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$830±$116 33% below VT |
$974±$72 21% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,489 11% below VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham 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% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnet 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.