Compare towns
Waterville Valley vs Eaton vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville Valley has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Eaton has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Sharon has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Waterville Valley | Eaton | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 290Lowest |
501Highest |
442 |
| Median age | 61.6±16.5Highest 42% above NH |
59.6±14 38% above NH |
49.4±11.2Lowest 14% above NH |
| Waterville Valley and Eaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.6%±11.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
9.6%±5 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±8.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sharon and Eaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 43.1%±9.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
41.3%±15.7 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Waterville Valley and Eaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
51.5% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 6% |
1.2%±2.9 NH: 6% |
1.6%±3Highest NH: 6% |
| Sharon and Eaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,625±$50k 7% above NH |
$79,063±$9kLowest 20% below NH |
$113,125±$19kHighest 14% above NH |
| Sharon and Waterville Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $562,500±$193kHighest 40% above NH |
$377,300±$62kLowest 6% below NH |
$475,900±$38k 18% above NH |
| Waterville Valley and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$382Lowest 23% below NH |
— | $1,458±$1kHighest about the NH average |
| Sharon and Waterville Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,745 14% below NH |
$4,014Lowest 40% below NH |
$8,274Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
28.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Waterville Valley and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% NH: 7.2% |
11%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.7%±12.6 NH: 16.8% |
24.4%±12.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.2%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Eaton and Waterville Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Waterville Valley School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.