Compare towns
Chatham vs Shelburne vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the most renters (17.2% rent).
Shelburne has the most affordable homes ($280k median).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Chatham | Shelburne | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
530Highest |
442 |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6Lowest 12% above NH |
50.3±11Highest 16% above NH |
49.4±11.2 14% above NH |
| Shelburne and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±8.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sharon and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Shelburne and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% NH: 40.6% |
36.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest NH: 6% |
4%±4.5 NH: 6% |
1.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Chatham and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19kLowest 33% below NH |
$93,125±$18k 6% below NH |
$113,125±$19kHighest 14% above NH |
| Sharon and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42k 10% below NH |
$280,200±$45kLowest 30% below NH |
$475,900±$38kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,130±$62Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,458±$1kHighest about the NH average |
| Sharon and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$3,801 43% below NH |
$8,274Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
10%±70.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
28.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Chatham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86% NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
25 minLowest 6% below NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.2%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sharon and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.