Compare towns
Strafford vs Barre vs Chittenden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Chittenden has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Strafford | Barre | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
8,412Highest |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
51.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Chittenden 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 |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
| Strafford and Chittenden 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 |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,192Lowest 3% above VT |
$5,346 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Chittenden 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
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| 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.