Compare towns
Sharon vs Pittsfield 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%).
Pittsfield has the most people working from home (28.1%).
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 | Pittsfield | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Highest |
391Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Pittsfield 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% |
13.6%±8.4Lowest 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% |
30.4%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pittsfield 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% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Pittsfield 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 |
$65,852±$12kLowest 19% 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 |
$313,300±$73kLowest about the VT average |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,035±$140Lowest 16% 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 |
$5,181Lowest about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Pittsfield 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs 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 |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Pittsfield and Strafford 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.