Compare towns
Chittenden vs Sutton vs Whitingham 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 homeowners (93.5%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Whitingham has the youngest population (median age 46.4).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Sutton | Whitingham | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
790Lowest |
1,368 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Whitingham 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% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest 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±$28k 31% above VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above 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 |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
— | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 6% above VT |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Chittenden 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.