What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).

North Bennington has the most people working from home (17.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sharon	North Bennington
People
Population	1,577Highest	1,336Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+4.4%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT	43.9±10Lowest about the VT average
	Sharon and North Bennington 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%	10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	25.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%	31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4%
	North Bennington 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%	41.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%	21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT	$68,571±$10kLowest 16% below VT
	Sharon and North Bennington 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	$313,000±$40kLowest about the VT average
	Sharon and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$155Lowest 12% above VT	$1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT
	North Bennington and Sharon 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	$5,590Lowest 11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	53.7%±26.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	North Bennington and Sharon 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%	7.4%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	61.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT	1957Lowest 19 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 12% above VT	18 minLowest 24% below VT
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	17.3%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9%
	North Bennington and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Sharon School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.