Compare towns
Sharon vs Windsor vs Calais vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Windsor | Calais | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
3,554Highest |
1,713 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
19.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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 VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Calais 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±$17k 4% above VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Calais 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 |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Calais and Sharon 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 |
$5,209Lowest 3% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
23 minLowest 3% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Strafford 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.