What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Strafford	Sharon
People
Population	1,372Lowest	1,577Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT	45.6±7.7Lowest 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%	21%±5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	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 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%	37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7%	1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT	$84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT
	Strafford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT	$346,700±$37kLowest 10% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT	$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT
	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 42% above VT	$5,903Lowest 17% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4%	19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Strafford and Sharon 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%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest about the VT average	26 minHighest 12% above VT
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9%	12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	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	Sharon School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.