Compare towns
Sharon vs Royalton vs Barnard
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 oldest population (median age 45.6).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% 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 | Royalton | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577 |
2,752Highest |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
| Sharon and Royalton 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% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard 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 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Royalton 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% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Barnard 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 4% above VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Royalton and Barnard 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 |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Barnard 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 |
$1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
| Sharon and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 17% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Royalton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Royalton 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 | — | #48 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | White River Unified School District #79 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | White River Valley High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.