What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).

Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

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	Thetford
People
Population	1,577Lowest	2,813Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+7.2%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT	43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average
	Sharon and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest VT: 17.9%	15.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Sharon and Thetford 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%	20.8%±6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Sharon and Thetford 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%	68%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%	6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7%
	Thetford 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	$88,045±$16kHighest 8% above VT
	Thetford 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±$37kHighest 10% above VT	$329,500±$96kLowest 4% above VT
	Sharon and Thetford 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	$1,141±$96Lowest 8% below VT
	Sharon and Thetford 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	$6,948Highest 38% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	49.7%±30.1Highest VT: 48.4%
	Thetford 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%	8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	84.1%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT	1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 12% above VT	23 minLowest 4% below VT
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	13.6%±6.3Highest VT: 16.9%
	Thetford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#40 of 70 in VT
School district	Sharon School District	Thetford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.