Compare towns
Sharon vs Colrain vs Strafford vs Barnet
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Colrain has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
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 | Colrain | Strafford | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
1,627 |
1,372Lowest |
1,855Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Colrain 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% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Barnet 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% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below 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 | $346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 89% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,489 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Sharon School District | Mohawk Trail | Strafford School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.