Compare towns
Sharon vs Waterville vs Sutton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Waterville has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k 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 | Waterville | Sutton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577Highest |
680Lowest |
790 |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Waterville 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% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 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% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Strafford 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 |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% 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 |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% 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 |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Sharon School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.