Compare towns
Sharon vs Strafford vs Barnard 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).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Strafford | Barnard | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577Highest |
1,372 |
1,211Lowest |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
| Strafford and Sharon 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% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Strafford 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%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Cavendish 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% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Cavendish 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
| Strafford and Barnard 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 |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Sharon School District | Strafford School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 Our Story | 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.