Compare towns
Chittenden vs Kingston 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).
Kingston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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 | Kingston | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318Lowest |
6,275Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3Lowest 31% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Kingston 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kingston 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% |
35.1%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% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$105,330±$12kLowest 30% 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. |
$492,900±$58kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Kingston 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. |
$1,393±$156Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Kingston 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. |
$7,906Highest 153% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Kingston and Strafford 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% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Kingston 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 | — | #78 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Sanborn Regional School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.