Compare towns
Sharon vs Strafford vs Wallingford
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).
Wallingford 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 | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577 |
1,372Lowest |
2,286Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Strafford and Wallingford 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% |
18.7%±5Lowest 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%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Wallingford 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% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$80,230±$15kLowest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% 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 |
$4,355Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Sharon 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% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Sharon 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 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None 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.