Compare towns
Chittenden vs South Hero 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 affordable homes ($347k median).
South Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | South Hero | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318Lowest |
1,586Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3Lowest 18% above VT |
51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| South Hero 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 VT: 17.9% |
14.8%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| South Hero 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% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest 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 |
$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| South Hero 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 |
$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,439±$221Highest 17% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| South Hero and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346Lowest 6% above VT |
$7,858Highest 56% above VT |
$7,149 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.6%±21 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and South Hero 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% |
3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| South Hero 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 | South Hero School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.