Compare towns
Sharon vs Woolwich vs Cavendish 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%).
Woolwich has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Woolwich | Cavendish | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
3,158Highest |
1,242Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
55.8±5.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Woolwich 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% |
15%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 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% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Woolwich 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Cavendish 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. |
$102,175±$26k 27% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$254,500±$59kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,000±$546Lowest 29% 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. |
$2,433Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$3,948 27% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woolwich and Strafford 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% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cavendish 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 | — | #92 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | RSU 01 - LKRSU | 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 |
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.