Compare towns
Strafford vs Townshend 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).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Sharon has the youngest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Townshend | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
1,538 |
1,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Townshend 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 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 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%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest 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% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$78,750±$29kLowest 3% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 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 |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% 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 |
$5,364Lowest 6% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend 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% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest 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 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.