Compare towns
Hampton vs Sharon vs Strafford vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
West Haven has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Hampton | Sharon | Strafford | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145 |
1,577Highest |
1,372 |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
54±10.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Haven and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±13.3 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+ | 20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Haven and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$85,250±$29k 6% above U.S. |
| Strafford and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$245,000±$34k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Sharon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,485 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6.5 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 | — | Sharon School District | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.