Compare towns
Strafford vs Bethel vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Strafford | Bethel | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
1,736Highest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
50.7±3.7 18% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Strafford and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 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+ | 22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bethel and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$75,822±$7kLowest 7% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% 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 | $431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,335±$220 8% above VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,168Lowest about the VT average |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Strafford School District | White River Unified School District #79 | Sharon 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 |
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.