Compare towns
Sharon vs Stratton vs Wardsboro vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Wardsboro has the most affordable homes ($299k median).
Strafford has the most people working from home (16.1%).
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 | Stratton | Wardsboro | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577Highest |
532Lowest |
820 |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Wardsboro 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Strafford 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| Stratton 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 10% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Sharon 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Sharon School District | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Strafford School District |
| High school 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.