What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.3%).

Strafford has the most homeowners (88.9%).

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	South Burlington	Strafford
People
Population	20,756Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.3%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	38.2±1.8Lowest 11% below VT	51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT
Kids under 18	19%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9%	23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Strafford and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4%
	Strafford and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2Highest VT: 7%	5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7%
	South Burlington and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,667±$13kLowest 31% above VT	$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT
	Strafford and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$443,400±$19kHighest 40% above VT	$431,300±$40kLowest 36% above VT
	South Burlington and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,787±$59Highest 45% above VT	$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT
	South Burlington and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,674Lowest 32% above VT	$7,149Highest 42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±7.6Lowest VT: 48.4%	44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4%
	Strafford and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	88.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 25% below VT	23 minHighest about the VT average
Work from home	19.6%±3.3Highest VT: 16.9%	16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	South Burlington 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	#12 of 70 in VT	—
School district	South Burlington School District	Strafford School District
High school in town	South Burlington High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.