Compare towns
Sharon vs Stratton vs Ripton vs Barnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k 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.
| Measure | Sharon | Stratton | Ripton | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
532 |
508Lowest |
1,855Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Barnet 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% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
| Stratton and Ripton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
| Stratton and Ripton 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 |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
— | $974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
| Sharon and Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.