Compare towns
Sharon vs Nelson vs Cavendish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Highest |
648Lowest |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Nelson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cavendish 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±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
| Nelson 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±$37kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Sharon School District | Nelson School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.