Compare towns
Barnard vs Cavendish vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k median).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Barnard | Cavendish | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
1,242 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 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+ | 22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Cavendish and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$89,063±$29kLowest 10% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above 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 |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% 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 | $6,038 20% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Cavendish 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.