Compare towns
Strafford vs Chapman vs Mendon vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Chapman has the most affordable homes ($186k median).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Chapman | Mendon | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
388Lowest |
1,113 |
1,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
45.7±11.4 17% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Chapman 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chapman and Strafford 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 37% above U.S. |
$93,125±$17k 15% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
— | $1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
| Sharon and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$1,850Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon 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 | — | — | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.