Compare towns
Sharon vs Westminster vs Dummerston 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%).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Dummerston | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577Lowest |
2,999Highest |
2,090 |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Barnet 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% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Westminster 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% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westminster 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 |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
| Sharon and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$974±$72 21% below VT |
| Dummerston and Sharon 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 |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,489 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Westminster 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Dummerston 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— | — |
| 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.