Compare towns
Strafford vs Sharon vs West Fairlee
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).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Sharon | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,577Highest |
711Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Strafford and West Fairlee 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 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest 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%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and West Fairlee 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 |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$76,500±$16kLowest 6% below 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±$37k 10% above VT |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,113±$171Lowest 10% below 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 |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$5,210Lowest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| West Fairlee and Strafford 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 12% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.