Compare towns
Bradford vs Strafford vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bradford has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Strafford has the most people working from home (16.1%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Bradford | Strafford | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,827Highest |
1,372Lowest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.7±3.1 about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±5.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bradford and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.2% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,162±$15k 33% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$87,019±$22kLowest 7% above VT |
| Strafford and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,600±$30kLowest 18% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$808Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Bradford and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,472Lowest 11% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.9%±23.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 7.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #45 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 | Strafford School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | Oxbow Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.