Compare towns
Cavendish vs Mapleton vs Strafford vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Cavendish | Mapleton | Strafford | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,372 |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% 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 | 18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
| Sharon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948 27% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cavendish and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Strafford School District | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.