Compare towns
Chittenden vs Strafford vs Worcester
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 homeowners (93.5%).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318 |
1,372Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% 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%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Strafford 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 31% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| 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±$35k 10% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 6% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Worcester 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | Strafford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 |
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.