Compare towns
Strafford vs Richmond vs Dummerston 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 oldest population (median age 51.4).
Richmond has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Richmond | Dummerston | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
4,159Highest |
2,090 |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Strafford and Dummerston 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% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Dummerston 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% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Dummerston 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% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Richmond 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 |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
| Strafford and Richmond 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 |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Richmond 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 |
— | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Dummerston 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% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Richmond 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.