Compare towns
Chittenden vs Mason 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).
Mason has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Mason | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318Lowest |
1,451Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above 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% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Strafford 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% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%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% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest 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±$28kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Mason and Strafford 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. |
$384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Mason 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. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$7,049 126% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason 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 | Mason 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 |
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.