Compare towns
Strafford vs Wells vs Whitingham 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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Whitingham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Sharon has the most renters (20.3% rent).
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 | Wells | Whitingham | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,148Lowest |
1,368 |
1,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Strafford and Wells 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% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 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%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Wells 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 |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% 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 |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Wells 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 |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
38 min 62% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.