Compare towns
Cavendish vs Union vs Whitingham 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).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($347k 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 | Cavendish | Union | Whitingham | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
2,663Highest |
1,368 |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
| Whitingham 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% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Sharon 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% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cavendish and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
| Cavendish 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±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
| Sharon and Union 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. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham 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% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cavendish and Union 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 40/MSAD 40 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
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| 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.