Compare towns
Strafford vs Bennington 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%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
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 |
15,249Highest |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
44.7±2.3Lowest 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% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Bennington 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% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington 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% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
51.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Strafford 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 |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% 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 |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT |
| 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 42% above VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,346 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Strafford 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% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Bennington 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| 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.