Compare towns
Jackson 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
Jackson has the most affordable homes ($235k 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 | Jackson | Sharon | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,695Highest |
1,577 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3Lowest 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+ | 33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$8kLowest 4% 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 | $235,400±$40kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,165Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest 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 |
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.