Compare towns
Sharon vs Atkinson 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
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Sharon | Atkinson | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577 |
7,267Highest |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest 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+ | 25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Strafford 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 | — | #32 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Timberlane Regional 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 |
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.