Compare towns
Sharon vs Dummerston vs Cavendish vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Dummerston | Cavendish | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
2,090Highest |
1,242Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Dummerston 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 VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Cavendish 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 4% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Dummerston and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 17% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Sharon School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Strafford School District |
| 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 | 18 photos → | None yet |
VT 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.