Compare towns
Bennington vs Sharon vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Bennington | Sharon | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Highest |
1,577 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 91% above U.S. |
$5,903Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Sharon School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.