What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sharon	West Fairlee
People
Population	1,577Highest	711Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT	50.3±7.6Highest 17% above VT
	West Fairlee and Sharon 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%	13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Sharon and West Fairlee 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%	29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4%
	West Fairlee 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%Lowest VT: 43.8%	44.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%	2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7%
	West Fairlee 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±$17kHighest 4% above VT	$76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT
	Sharon and West Fairlee 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	$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT	$1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT
	Sharon and West Fairlee 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	$5,210Lowest 3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4%
	West Fairlee 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%	7.3%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	91.9%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 minLowest 12% above VT	28 minHighest 20% above VT
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9%	5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Sharon and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Sharon School District	Rivendell Interstate 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.