Compare towns
Sharon vs Westford 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%).
Westford has the most people working from home (19.1%).
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 | Westford | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Lowest |
2,290Highest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
44.1±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnet and Sharon 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% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest 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%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest 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% |
52.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
| Westford 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 |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
| Westford and Sharon 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 |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
$4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Westford 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 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | 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 |
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.