What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k median).

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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	Stowe
People
Population	1,577Lowest	5,285Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT	46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT
	Stowe and Sharon 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%	22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Stowe and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%	25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Stowe and Sharon 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%	66.7%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%	1.6%±1.6Highest VT: 7%
	Stowe 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±$17kLowest 4% above VT	$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT
	Stowe 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±$37kLowest 10% above VT	$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$155Lowest 12% above VT	$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT
	Stowe and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,903Lowest 17% above VT	$7,161Highest 42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	24.5%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Stowe and Sharon 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%	9.9%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 12% above VT	19 minLowest 18% below VT
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Stowe 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	Stowe Town School District
High school in town	None in town	Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.