Compare towns
Chittenden vs Barre 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%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
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.
| Measure | Chittenden | Barre | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318Lowest |
8,412Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
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%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Chittenden 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% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% 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 |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 6% above VT |
$5,192Lowest 3% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Barre 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% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
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| 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.