Compare towns
Strafford vs Rye vs Sharon
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
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 | Rye | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
5,611Highest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rye 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rye and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 129% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$5,903Lowest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Rye 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% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Rye School District | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.