Compare towns
Strafford vs Mapleton vs Sharon vs West Fairlee
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 most people working from home (16.1%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
West Fairlee has the most homeowners (91.9%).
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 | Mapleton | Sharon | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,884Highest |
1,577 |
711Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
| Strafford and West Fairlee 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Fairlee 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$76,500±$16kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$237,200±$35k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,113±$171 21% below U.S. |
| 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 129% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$5,210 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Fairlee and Strafford 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Strafford School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Sharon School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.