Compare towns
Baltimore vs Barnard vs Strafford vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baltimore has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Barnard has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% 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 | Baltimore | Barnard | Strafford | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 361Lowest |
1,211 |
1,372Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.2±10.3 19% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Strafford and Baltimore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.9%±6.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,500±$16k 32% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Strafford and Baltimore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,400±$27kLowest 31% below VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Strafford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Barnard and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,329 14% below VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 1.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
2.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Strafford School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.