Compare towns
Vernon vs Sharon vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the youngest population (median age 42.6).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Brattleboro has the most people working from home (17.9%).
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 | Vernon | Sharon | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,709 |
1,577Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Brattleboro and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Vernon and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
| Sharon and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$214Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,191Lowest 3% above VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.5% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brattleboro and Sharon 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 | #30 of 70 in VT | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Vernon School District | Sharon School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| 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.