Compare towns
Sharon vs Fairfax 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 the most renters (20.3% rent).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Fairfax | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577 |
5,226Highest |
1,242Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
| Sharon and Cavendish 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% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax 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% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Cavendish 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% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
| Fairfax and Cavendish 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 |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
| Fairfax 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 |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfax and Cavendish 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Cavendish 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Fairfax School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.