Compare towns
Sharon vs Westminster vs Strafford vs Cavendish
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 most renters (20.3% rent).
Westminster has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Westminster | Strafford | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577Highest |
497Lowest |
1,372 |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
| Strafford and Sharon 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Strafford 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% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Cavendish 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% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| 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±$17k 4% above VT |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the VT average |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
| Strafford and Cavendish 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 |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% 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 |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Cavendish 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | — | Strafford School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| 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 | 18 photos → |
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.