Compare towns
Sharon vs Orange vs Barnet 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%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Barnet has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Orange | Barnet | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
957Lowest |
1,855Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Orange and Barnet 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% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 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%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Barnet 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Orange and Whitingham 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 |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
| Sharon and Orange 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 |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,330±$153 8% above VT |
$974±$72 21% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Sharon and Orange 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 |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,489 11% below VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Barnet 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% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Orange and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Sharon School District | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.