Compare towns
Sharon vs Wolfeboro 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577 |
6,571Highest |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Strafford 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% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest 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%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Wolfeboro 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. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Wolfeboro 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. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
| 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 89% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Sharon 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.