Compare towns
Strafford vs Unity 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 most people working from home (16.1%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
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.
| Measure | Strafford | Unity | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
1,375 |
1,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Unity 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
| Unity and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,394Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Unity 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% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Unity 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.