Compare towns
Strafford vs Dummerston vs Rupert 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).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Dummerston | Rupert | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
2,090Highest |
676Lowest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Rupert and Strafford 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% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Rupert 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 |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
| Strafford and Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Strafford and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
— | $1,386±$155 12% above VT |
| Dummerston and Sharon 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 |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,594 9% below VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Dummerston 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% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Strafford School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | 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 | 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.