Compare towns
Sharon vs White River Junction vs Cavendish vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Cavendish has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | White River Junction | Cavendish | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
3,364Highest |
1,242Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% 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% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 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% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest 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 |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% 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 |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Sharon and White River Junction 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 |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and White River Junction 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% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Strafford School District |
| High school 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.