Compare towns
Sharon vs Strafford vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577 |
1,372Lowest |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% 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% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest 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% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest 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% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Windham 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±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Windham 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. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Windham 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | — | — | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Sharon School District | Strafford School District | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.