Compare towns
Chittenden vs Richmond vs Strafford vs Cornwall
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 affordable homes ($347k median).
Richmond has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
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 | Richmond | Strafford | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
4,159Highest |
1,372 |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 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±$28kLowest 31% above VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
| Cornwall 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 10% above VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
| Cornwall and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488 9% below VT |
— | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346Lowest 6% above VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall 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 VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Richmond 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Strafford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.