Compare towns
Sharon vs Fairlee vs Royalton
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%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Fairlee | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577 |
1,066Lowest |
2,752Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
| Fairlee and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Royalton 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Sharon 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% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton 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 |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
| Sharon and Fairlee 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 |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
| Sharon and Fairlee 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 |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Royalton 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton and Fairlee 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 | — | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Sharon School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.