Compare towns
Fairfield vs Sharon vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Sharon has the most renters (20.3% rent).
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 | Fairfield | Sharon | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938Highest |
1,577 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22kLowest about the VT average |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Sharon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816Lowest 4% below VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Sharon School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.