Compare towns
Waltham vs Sharon vs Ferrisburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
Ferrisburgh has the most expensive homes ($423k 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 | Waltham | Sharon | Ferrisburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
1,577 |
2,661Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
45.5±4.9Lowest 6% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
51.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Waltham and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
$106,989±$22kHighest 32% above VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,700±$51kLowest 4% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$422,700±$35kHighest 34% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,435±$173Highest 16% above VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714Lowest 13% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$6,120Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ferrisburgh and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
26 minLowest 12% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham and Ferrisburgh 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 | — | — | #7 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Sharon School District | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school 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.