Compare towns
Strafford vs Stowe 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).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Stowe | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
5,285Highest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Strafford and Stowe 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% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Stowe 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% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe 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% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Stowe 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 |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
| Strafford and Stowe 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 |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$346,700±$37kLowest 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
| Stowe and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 42% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$5,903Lowest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Stowe 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe 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 | Stowe Town School District | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.