Compare towns
Sharon vs Exeter vs Strafford vs Cavendish
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%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 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 | Exeter | Strafford | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577Highest |
913Lowest |
1,372 |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Exeter 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% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Cavendish 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. |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546 29% 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. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,948 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Cavendish 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cavendish and Strafford 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| 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 | 18 photos → |
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.