Compare towns
Sharon vs Ira 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 the youngest population (median age 45.6).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k 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 | Ira | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Highest |
381Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Ira and Strafford 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest 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%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Ira 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 |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% 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 |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% 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 |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Ira 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 History | 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.