Compare towns
Sharon vs Westminster vs Barnet vs Whitingham
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%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Westminster | Barnet | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
2,999Highest |
1,855 |
1,368Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Westminster and Barnet 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% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 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% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Whitingham 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 |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
| Sharon and Westminster 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 |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
$974±$72 21% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,489 11% below VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Barnet 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 17% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
| 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.