Compare towns
Sharon vs Northfield vs Cavendish vs Whitingham
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%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Cavendish has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Whitingham has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Northfield | Cavendish | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
5,920Highest |
1,242Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
46.4±7.1Highest 8% above VT |
| Whitingham 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% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Whitingham 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% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Cavendish 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 |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
| Sharon and Cavendish 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 |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Whitingham 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.