Compare towns
Chatham 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
Chatham has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Strafford has the most people working from home (16.1%).
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 | Strafford | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
1,372Highest |
442 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6Lowest 24% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.4±11.2 27% 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 | 21.4%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±8.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chatham and Strafford 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 18% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$113,125±$19kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$475,900±$38kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,458±$1kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$8,274Highest 165% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Strafford School District | — |
| High school 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.