Compare towns
Monroe vs Strafford vs Williston vs Bath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($234k 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.
| Measure | Monroe | Strafford | Williston | Bath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 786Lowest |
1,372 |
10,144Highest |
1,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±10.4 31% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
48.6±8.6 25% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,150±$7k 9% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$67,813±$22kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,700±$58k 6% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$234,400±$23kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$218Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,438±$309 about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,413 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±39Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Monroe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Monroe School District | Strafford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Bath School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.