Compare towns
Barnet vs Strafford vs Williston vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Barnet | Strafford | Williston | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
1,372 |
10,144Highest |
786Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
51±10.4 31% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$88,150±$7k 9% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$312,700±$58k 6% below U.S. |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 44% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Strafford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.