Compare towns
Chittenden vs Castleton vs Strafford vs Pittsfield
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%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Pittsfield has the most people working from home (28.1%).
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 | Castleton | Strafford | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
4,453Highest |
1,372 |
391Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
| Pittsfield and Strafford 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±8.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Pittsfield 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$65,852±$12kLowest 19% below 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$313,300±$73k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488 9% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,035±$140Lowest 16% below VT |
| Castleton and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 6% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,181 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest 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 |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pittsfield 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 | 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.