Compare towns
Sharon vs Townshend vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the youngest population (median age 45.6).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Townshend | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Highest |
1,538 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Townshend 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$78,750±$29kLowest 3% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above 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 |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% 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 |
$5,364Lowest 6% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend 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% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Sharon School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.