Compare towns
Strafford vs Bolton vs Williston
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 oldest population (median age 51.4).
Bolton has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Bolton | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,163Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Strafford and Williston 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% |
14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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±$19k 36% above VT |
$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above VT |
| Bolton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.6% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Bolton and Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Strafford School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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 |
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.