Compare towns
Strafford vs Waitsfield 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).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Waitsfield | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
1,918Highest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±7.7 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%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Strafford 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Waitsfield 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±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
| Strafford and Waitsfield 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 |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
$346,700±$37kLowest 10% above VT |
| Strafford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Waitsfield 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 |
$6,208 23% above VT |
$5,903Lowest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 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% |
19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Sharon 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.