Compare towns
Strafford vs Hampton vs Sharon vs Vershire
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).
Hampton has the most people working from home (21.7%).
Sharon has the youngest population (median age 45.6).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
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 | Hampton | Sharon | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
16,426Highest |
1,577 |
842Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
45.7±9.3 17% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.5 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Vershire 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. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$71,618±$12kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$209,100±$55kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,117±$80Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Sharon 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. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$4,640Lowest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Vershire and Hampton 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Strafford 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Sharon School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.