Compare towns
Chittenden vs Strafford vs Upton vs Monkton
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).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Monkton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
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 | Strafford | Upton | Monkton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318Lowest |
1,372 |
8,189Highest |
1,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
47.1±5.4 21% 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% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.8Lowest 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% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$119,688±$28k 48% above U.S. |
| Upton and Monkton 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. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$379,900±$18k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488 20% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,301±$120Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Monkton 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. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,887 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±64Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Monkton and Upton 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Monkton and Upton 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 | — | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Strafford School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.