Compare towns
Sharon vs Ripton vs Barnet vs Cavendish
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 renters (20.3% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
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 | Ripton | Barnet | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
508Lowest |
1,855Highest |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
| Ripton 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±$37k 10% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
| Ripton and Sharon 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 |
— | $974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
| Sharon and Cavendish 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,489 11% below VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Sharon School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → |
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.