Compare towns
Fairlee 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
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Fairlee | Sharon | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
1,577Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Fairlee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Lowest 12% 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 | $5,617Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | 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.