Compare towns
Barnard vs Randolph 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%).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Randolph | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
4,843Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Barnard 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% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest 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% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph 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% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below 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 |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% 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 |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Barnard and Randolph 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 |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Strafford 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% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— |
| 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.