Compare towns
South Hero vs Williston vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hero has the most people working from home (26.3%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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.
| Measure | South Hero | Williston | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,586 |
10,144Highest |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| South Hero and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| South Hero and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| 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 | $127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| South Hero and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$431,300±$40kLowest 36% above VT |
| South Hero and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$221 17% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,858Highest 56% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$7,149 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.6%±21Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 4% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| South Hero and Williston 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 | South Hero School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Strafford School District |
| 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.