Compare towns
Strafford vs Middlesex vs Warren 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).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
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 | Middlesex | Warren | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,585 |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
53.1±4.2Highest 23% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Warren 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.1%±4.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Warren 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
60%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±4 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$86,905±$16k 7% above VT |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
| Strafford and Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$569,300±$123kHighest 80% above VT |
$346,700±$37kLowest 10% above VT |
| Warren 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 9% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,750±$394Highest 42% above VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
| Warren and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 42% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$7,284Highest 45% above VT |
$5,903Lowest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.3%±26.6 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Warren 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% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
15.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
36.2%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Warren and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Strafford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Sharon 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 |
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.