Compare towns
Sharon vs Whiting 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
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Cavendish has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Whiting | Cavendish | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577Highest |
532Lowest |
1,242 |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Whiting 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±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36kLowest 11% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Sharon and Whiting 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 |
$4,227 16% below 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% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%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 |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.