Compare towns
Sharon vs Wilder vs Royalton 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).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Royalton has the most people working from home (17.8%).
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 | Wilder | Royalton | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577Lowest |
3,087Highest |
2,752 |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
43.9±10.1Lowest 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 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% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Wilder 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% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Royalton 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 |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
| Royalton 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 |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
$974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
| Sharon and Wilder 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 |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
$4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Wilder 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton and Barnet 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 | — | — | #48 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | — | White River Unified School District #79 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | White River Valley High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.