Compare towns
Strafford vs Manchester 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 highest household income ($111k).
Manchester has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Manchester | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
4,486Highest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Manchester 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% |
16.9%±4.5Lowest 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% |
25.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Manchester 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 VT: 43.8% |
47.4% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Manchester 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 36% above VT |
$94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
| Strafford and Manchester 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 |
$454,600±$47kHighest 44% above VT |
$346,700±$37kLowest 10% above VT |
| Manchester 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 |
$1,057±$76Lowest 14% 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 |
$5,923 18% above VT |
$5,903Lowest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester 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% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Manchester 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 | — | #37 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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 |
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.