Compare towns
Strafford vs Cornish 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).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Sharon has the youngest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Cornish | Mendon | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,816Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%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. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Mendon 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% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Cornish 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% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Mendon 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. |
$91,821±$2k 14% 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. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% 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. |
$1,221±$227 14% 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. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$5,342Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest 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% |
4.7% 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% |
94.1%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. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
24 min 8% 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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 | Cornish School District | — | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None 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.