Compare towns
Strafford vs Brewer 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).
Brewer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Brewer | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
9,652Highest |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% 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%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer 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 37% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below 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. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$346,800±$35k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,125±$488Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$5,346 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #32 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Brewer Public Schools | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | None in town | Brewer High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.