Compare towns
Sharon vs Hartford vs Bridgewater
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 kids (21% under 18).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Hartford | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577 |
10,736Highest |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Bridgewater 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% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Hartford 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% |
22.5%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Hartford 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 |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| Sharon and Hartford 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 |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
| Sharon and Hartford 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 |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Sharon and Hartford 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 |
$5,773 15% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Hartford 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Hartford 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Hartford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6 |
— |
| 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.