Compare towns
Strafford vs Williston vs Brattleboro 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 oldest population (median age 51.4).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k 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 | Williston | Brattleboro | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
10,144 |
12,122Highest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Strafford and Brattleboro 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Lowest 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Strafford 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Strafford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Brattleboro 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.