Compare towns

Strafford vs Panton 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).
Panton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
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.

MeasureStraffordPantonSharon
People
Population
1,372
690Lowest
1,577Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
-4.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
42.7±3.8Lowest
about the VT average
45.6±7.7
6% above VT
Strafford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
24.9%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
21%±5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Panton and Strafford 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%
16.7%±2.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.1%±3.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
Sharon and Strafford 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%
35.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
37.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.3
VT: 7%
1.5%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
Strafford and Panton 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
$86,667±$10k
7% above VT
$84,375±$17kLowest
4% above VT
Strafford and Panton 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
$438,000±$40kHighest
38% above VT
$346,700±$37kLowest
10% above VT
Panton 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
$1,410±$130Highest
14% above VT
$1,386±$155
12% above VT
Panton and Sharon 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
$6,695
33% above VT
$5,903Lowest
17% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±48
VT: 48.4%
61%±39Highest
VT: 48.4%
19.8%±17.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Panton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
3.2%
VT: 10.1%
3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
83.7%
VT: 73.2%
79.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
about the VT average
26 min
11% above VT
26 minHighest
12% above VT
Work from home
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
26.7%±8.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.7%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Panton 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 — Sharon School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.