Compare towns
Sharon vs Westhampton vs Cavendish 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%).
Westhampton has the most homeowners (91.4%).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Westhampton | Cavendish | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577Highest |
1,552 |
1,242Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
49.3±4.9 27% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Westhampton 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% |
18%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest 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%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westhampton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Cavendish 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. |
$100,000±$7k 24% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Westhampton 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. |
$413,200±$24k 24% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Westhampton 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 |
$1,304±$229 8% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Westhampton 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. |
$6,476 108% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Westhampton 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% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cavendish 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 | Hampshire · Westhampton | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hampshire Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 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.