What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).

Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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	Strafford	Barnard
People
Population	1,372Highest	1,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT	42.4±6Lowest about the VT average
	Strafford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Barnard and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4%	22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Strafford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%	55.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7%	2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7%
	Strafford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT	$97,581±$19kLowest 20% above VT
	Strafford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT	$402,600±$71kLowest 27% above VT
	Strafford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT	$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT
	Barnard and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,149Highest 42% above VT	$6,038Lowest 20% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4%	27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Strafford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT	1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest about the VT average	29 minHighest 21% above VT
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9%
	Barnard and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Strafford School District	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
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.