Compare towns
Chittenden vs Dover 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%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 |
1,466Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3Lowest 18% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% |
48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% 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 |
$332,900±$55kLowest 5% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 6% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Dover 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% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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 |
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.