What stands out worked out from the figures below

Johnson City has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).

Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Johnson City	Strafford
People
Population	14,940Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.7±3.4Lowest 5% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Johnson City and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Johnson City and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,283±$4kLowest 30% below U.S.	$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$117,100±$4kLowest 65% below U.S.	$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,031±$66Lowest 27% below U.S.	$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S.
	Strafford and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,982Lowest 28% above U.S.	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Johnson City and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 38% below U.S.	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	9.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Strafford and Johnson City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Strafford School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.