Compare towns
Strafford vs Barton 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 the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Barton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Barton | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
2,815Highest |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
44.9±6.5Lowest 4% above VT |
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% |
20.7%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Barton 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% |
23.5%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Strafford 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% |
32.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
51.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$66,250±$16kLowest 18% 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 |
$201,200±$28kLowest 36% below VT |
$346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,355Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,346 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Barton 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% |
10.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7Lowest 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lake Region Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.5 |
— |
| 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.