Compare towns
Sharon vs Hardwick 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%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Barnet has the most people working from home (13.3%).
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 | Hardwick | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Lowest |
2,965Highest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnet and Hardwick 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% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest 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%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Hardwick 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% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Hardwick 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±$17k 4% above VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
| Hardwick 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 |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$974±$72 21% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,489 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Hardwick 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% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5Highest 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.