Compare towns
Chittenden vs Dover vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chittenden has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Dover | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318Lowest |
33,364Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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 32% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| 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 4% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Dover and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Dover and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Dover School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.