Compare towns
Sharon vs Strafford vs Sutton vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k 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 | Sutton | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
1,372Lowest |
9,452Highest |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.9±10.1Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Sharon 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% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest 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%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Strafford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalton 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±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$103,938±$24k 29% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 89% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Royalton 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 | — | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Sharon School District | Strafford School District | Sutton | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.