Compare towns
Sharon vs Mapleton vs Barnet 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Barnet has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
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 | Mapleton | Barnet | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
1,884Highest |
1,855 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnet 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Mapleton 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$247,900±$24k 25% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$974±$72 31% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,489 44% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Sharon School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | 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 | 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.