Compare towns
Sharon vs Groton 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%).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Groton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Highest |
967Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Groton 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% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.1% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Groton 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±$17k 4% above VT |
$77,250±$14kLowest 5% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| 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 10% above VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| 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 17% above VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Sharon 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% |
6.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Sharon 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 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.