Compare towns
Chittenden vs Fairlee 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%).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Fairlee | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318 |
1,066Lowest |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3Lowest 18% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Fairlee 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee 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 |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% 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 |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346Lowest 6% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | 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.