Compare towns
Chittenden vs Exeter 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 youngest population (median age 50.8).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Exeter | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318 |
913Lowest |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3Lowest 31% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 32% above U.S. |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below 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±$35k 4% above U.S. |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Highest 20% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 71% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Chittenden 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 | — | 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 |
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.

