Compare towns
Strafford vs Hancock 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).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k 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 | Hancock | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
1,791Highest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Hancock 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% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest 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% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Hancock 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. |
$95,208±$15k 18% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Hancock 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. |
$436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Strafford 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. |
$1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
| Sharon and Hancock 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. |
$6,884 121% above U.S. |
$5,903Lowest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Strafford School District | Contoocook Valley School District | 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 |
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.