Compare towns
Sharon vs Derry 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).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
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 | Derry | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577 |
34,116Highest |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Sharon 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% |
20.7%±2.1Lowest 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%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Strafford 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% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry 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. |
$108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Derry 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. |
$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Derry and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Derry and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Strafford 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% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Derry 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 | — | #60 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9 |
— |
| 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.