Compare towns
Sharon vs Newfields vs Whitingham 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 the most renters (20.3% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Newfields | Whitingham | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
2,023Highest |
1,368Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Whitingham 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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 5% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 89% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,055Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer 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 |
26 min about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Sharon School District | Newfields School District | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.