Compare towns
Sharon vs Waltham 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 the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Waltham | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577 |
452Lowest |
1,855Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet 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% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
39%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waltham 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±$17k 4% above VT |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
| Waltham 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 |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
| Sharon and Waltham 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 |
$1,096±$113 11% below VT |
$974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$5,714 13% above VT |
$4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Waltham 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% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham 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 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.