Compare towns
Sharon vs Williston vs Exeter 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 the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Williston | Exeter | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
10,144 |
16,151Highest |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Exeter 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest 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%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Exeter 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% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Williston 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Williston 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Exeter 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 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.