Compare towns

Chittenden vs Barnet vs Strafford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chittenden has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

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.

MeasureChittendenBarnetStrafford
People
Population
1,318Lowest
1,855Highest
1,372
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.7%
VT: +2.8%
-2.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.8±6.3
18% above VT
47.7±5.3Lowest
11% above VT
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.8%±2.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.6%±4.9
VT: 17.9%
23%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Strafford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.8%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.8%±3.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
Barnet and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
51.5%
VT: 43.8%
35.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.6
VT: 7%
1%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$106,250±$28k
31% above VT
$67,386±$15kLowest
17% below VT
$110,833±$19kHighest
36% above VT
Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$346,800±$35k
10% above VT
$247,900±$24kLowest
22% below VT
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$488Highest
9% below VT
$974±$72Lowest
21% below VT
$1,125±$789Highest
9% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,346
6% above VT
$4,489Lowest
11% below VT
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
14.8%±55.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
59.3%±29.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48
VT: 48.4%
Barnet and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.6%
VT: 10.1%
8.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
21% above VT
28 min
17% above VT
23 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
15%±3.6
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±4.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Barstow Unified Union School District #49 Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 Strafford School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.