Compare towns
Sharon vs Strafford vs Cavendish vs Whitingham
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%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Strafford | Cavendish | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577Highest |
1,372 |
1,242Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Cavendish 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Strafford and Cavendish 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Strafford 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.