Compare towns
Bolton vs Strafford vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Bolton | Strafford | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
1,372Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Strafford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest 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+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 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+ | 58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$97,581±$19kLowest 20% above VT |
| Bolton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% 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 | $1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Bolton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Strafford School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.