Compare towns
Sharon vs Mendon vs Putney vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Mendon | Putney | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
1,113Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 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% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Mendon 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 |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Sharon and Mendon 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 |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Putney 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 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.