Compare towns
Baltimore vs Williston vs Strafford vs West Haven
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 most affordable homes ($219k median).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
West Haven has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Williston | Strafford | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 361 |
10,144Highest |
1,372 |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.2±10.3 19% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
54±10.5Highest 25% above VT |
| West Haven and Strafford 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Haven and Strafford 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest 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 | $107,500±$16k 32% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$85,250±$29kLowest 5% above 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
— |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,329Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,485 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±100 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
10.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Strafford 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school 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.