What stands out worked out from the figures below

Manchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).

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.

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

Measure	Manchester	Strafford
People
Population	4,486Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT	51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT
	Manchester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9%	23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Strafford and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4%	22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Manchester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%	53.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±3Highest VT: 7%	5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7%
	Manchester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,886±$23kLowest 17% above VT	$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT
	Strafford and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$454,600±$47kHighest 44% above VT	$431,300±$40kLowest 36% above VT
	Manchester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT	$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT
	Strafford and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,923Lowest 18% above VT	$7,149Highest 42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4%	44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Manchester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.8%Highest VT: 10.1%	5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%	88.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 39% below VT	23 minHighest about the VT average
Work from home	23.1%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9%	16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Manchester and Strafford 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	#37 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Taconic and Green Regional School District #63	Strafford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.