Compare towns
Chittenden vs Calais 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 affordable homes ($347k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Calais | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318Lowest |
1,713Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest 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%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Calais 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% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Strafford 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 |
$100,625±$27kLowest 24% above 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±$35kLowest 10% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Calais and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346Lowest 6% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais 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% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as 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% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Strafford 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.