Compare towns
Strafford vs Bolton 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 most expensive homes ($431k median).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Sharon has the most renters (20.3% rent).
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 | Bolton | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,163Lowest |
1,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% 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 | 23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±4Lowest 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%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
| Bolton and Strafford 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 |
$311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Bolton 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 |
$4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.6% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bolton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Strafford School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | 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.