Compare towns
Strafford vs Cavendish vs Barnet 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).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k 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 | Cavendish | Barnet | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,242Lowest |
1,855Highest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Strafford and Barnet 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% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Barnet 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% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet 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% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| 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 | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Strafford and Cavendish 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 |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Strafford 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 |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,489 11% below VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet 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% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.