What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).

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	Sheldon
People
Population	1,577Lowest	2,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT	40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT
	Sharon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Lowest VT: 17.9%	23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Sheldon 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%	12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%	2%±1.3Highest VT: 7%
	Sheldon and Sharon 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	$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT
	Sharon and Sheldon 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	$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT
	Sharon and Sheldon 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	$1,286±$379Lowest 4% above VT
	Sharon and Sheldon 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	$3,578Lowest 29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Highest VT: 48.4%	0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Sharon and Sheldon 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%	5.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	89%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 12% above VT	25 minLowest 7% above VT
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Sheldon 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	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.