Compare towns

Burke vs Sharon vs Strafford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burke has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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.

MeasureBurkeSharonStrafford
People
Population
1,317Lowest
1,577Highest
1,372
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
41.1±4.8Lowest
5% below VT
45.6±7.7
6% above VT
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
Strafford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23%±4Highest
VT: 17.9%
21%±5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
21.7%±2.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.1%±3.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
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+
41.4%
VT: 43.8%
37.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2.3
VT: 7%
1.5%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
Strafford and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$87,143±$17k
7% above VT
$84,375±$17kLowest
4% above VT
$110,833±$19kHighest
36% above VT
Strafford and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$340,600±$18kLowest
8% above VT
$346,700±$37k
10% above VT
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$938±$191Lowest
24% below VT
$1,386±$155Highest
12% above VT
$1,125±$789
9% below VT
Sharon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,177Lowest
about the VT average
$5,903
17% above VT
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.6%±31Highest
VT: 48.4%
19.8%±17.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48
VT: 48.4%
Burke and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10%Highest
VT: 10.1%
3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
5.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.6%
VT: 73.2%
79.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1980Lowest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
8% above VT
26 minHighest
12% above VT
23 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
23.4%±6.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.7%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
Burke and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 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

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.