Compare towns
Chittenden vs Barton 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%).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k 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.
| Measure | Chittenden | Barton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318 |
730Lowest |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below 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% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest 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% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% 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 |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 6% above VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton 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% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Strafford 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | — | Strafford School District |
| High school 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.