Compare towns
Conway vs Sharon vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Conway has the most renters (28.8% rent).
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.
| Measure | Conway | Sharon | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,141Highest |
1,577 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55±4.1Highest 41% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Conway and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest 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+ | 35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,385±$8kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $314,000±$43kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,095±$141Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789 20% below 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 | $4,087Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±13.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Conway and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #76 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Conway School District | Sharon School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Kennett High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
— | — |
| 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.