Compare towns
Sharon vs Strafford vs Westminster
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).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577 |
1,372Lowest |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Westminster 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 |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% 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 |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Strafford 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Sharon School District | Strafford School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.