Compare towns
Strafford vs Chenango 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 highest household income ($111k).
Chenango has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Chenango | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
10,787Highest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
41±2.8Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Chenango 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% |
22.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Chenango 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% |
35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Chenango 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. |
$86,646±$9k 7% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Chenango 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. |
$172,000±$9kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,038±$97Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
| 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 129% above U.S. |
$3,700Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Chenango 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% |
9.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Chenango 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 | — | #233 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.