Compare towns
Sharon vs Strafford vs Sheldon vs New Haven
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).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
New Haven has the most people working from home (17.8%).
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 | Sheldon | New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
1,372Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,792 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
48±3.9 11% above VT |
| Strafford and New Haven 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%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±2.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Sheldon 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 |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$92,321±$17k 14% above VT |
| Strafford and New Haven 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 |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$379,300±$19k 20% above VT |
| Strafford and New Haven 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 |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,163±$143 6% below VT |
| Sharon and Sheldon 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,967 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
20.1%±6.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and New Haven 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| New Haven 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| 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 |
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.