Compare towns
Sharon vs Walpole vs Windsor vs Strafford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
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 | Walpole | Windsor | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
3,690Highest |
3,554 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Walpole 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% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Walpole 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 5% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| 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 4% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Walpole 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. |
$6,078 95% above U.S. |
$5,209Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Strafford 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% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Sharon 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 | — | #27 of 120 in NH | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — | 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 | 12 photos → | 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.