Compare towns
Cavendish vs Strafford vs Barnard vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
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 | Cavendish | Strafford | Barnard | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
1,372Highest |
1,211Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Strafford and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 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+ | 23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest 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 | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below 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 | $285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
| Strafford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% 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 | $3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
29 min 21% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Strafford School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.