Compare towns
Strafford vs Ira vs Cornwall 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 kids (23% under 18).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Sharon has the most renters (20.3% rent).
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 | Ira | Cornwall | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
381Lowest |
1,208 |
1,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Ira 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| 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 42% above VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 |
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.