Compare towns
Shrewsbury vs Strafford vs Burke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shrewsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Burke has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Shrewsbury | Strafford | Burke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,237Lowest |
1,372Highest |
1,317 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±5.6 about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
41.1±4.8Lowest 5% below VT |
| Strafford and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Shrewsbury and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$23k 12% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$87,143±$17kLowest 7% above VT |
| Strafford and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $331,900±$52kLowest 5% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$340,600±$18k 8% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,438±$380Highest 17% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$938±$191Lowest 24% below VT |
| Shrewsbury and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,350 6% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,177Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 11% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Burke and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Strafford School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.