Compare towns
Sharon vs Windsor vs Whitingham 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 renters (42.2% rent).
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 | Windsor | Whitingham | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
3,554Highest |
1,368Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
44.8±6.5Lowest 4% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Whitingham 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% |
19.8%±4.5 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%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Windsor 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% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Whitingham 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 |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Sharon 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 |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% 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 |
$5,209 3% above VT |
$5,055Lowest about the VT average |
$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% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
23 minLowest 3% below VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Sharon 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 | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.