Compare towns
Strafford vs Williamstown 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 most expensive homes ($431k median).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
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 | Williamstown | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
3,579Highest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42±5Lowest 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Lowest 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% |
17%±3.9Lowest 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% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Williamstown 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 |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
| Strafford and Williamstown 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 |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
| Williamstown and Sharon 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 |
$3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown 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% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
23 min about the VT average |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.