Compare towns

Strafford vs Barnard vs Whitingham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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.

MeasureStraffordBarnardWhitingham
People
Population
1,372Highest
1,211Lowest
1,368
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
+4.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
42.4±6Lowest
about the VT average
46.4±7.1
8% above VT
Strafford and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
26.9%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
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%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
22%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
31.1%±2.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.3%
VT: 43.8%
55.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.8
VT: 7%
2.2%±1.9Lowest
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±$19k
20% above VT
$70,625±$11kLowest
13% below 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±$71k
27% above VT
$262,300±$30kLowest
17% below 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±$789
9% below VT
$1,372±$80Highest
11% above VT
$673±$150Lowest
45% below 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
$6,038
20% above VT
$5,055Lowest
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±48
VT: 48.4%
27%±19.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
62.7%±47.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
Whitingham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%
VT: 10.1%
2.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
15.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.4%
VT: 73.2%
85.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
about the VT average
29 min
21% above VT
38 minHighest
62% above VT
Work from home
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
19.3%±10.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.7%±5.2Lowest
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 Twin Valley Unified School District #75
High school in town None in town None in town Twin Valley Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
7.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.