Compare towns
Sharon vs Strafford vs Vershire vs Barnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
Barnet has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
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 | Vershire | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
1,372 |
842Lowest |
1,855Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.7±9.3 6% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
| Strafford and Barnet 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Barnet 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5 VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet 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% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Vershire and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$71,618±$12k 12% below VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
| Strafford 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±$37k 10% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
$247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,117±$80 9% below VT |
$974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
| Sharon and Strafford 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 |
$4,640 8% below VT |
$4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire and Barnet 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.5% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Barnet 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 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school 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.