Compare towns
Strafford vs Bennington vs Chittenden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
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 | Bennington | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,588Highest |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 37% above U.S. |
$83,875±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$106,250±$28k 32% above U.S. |
| 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 30% above U.S. |
$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$346,800±$35k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,125±$488Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,944 91% above U.S. |
$5,346Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Strafford School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.