Compare towns
Strafford vs Bridgewater 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%).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k 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 | Bridgewater | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Highest |
980Lowest |
1,318 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
50.8±6.3Lowest 18% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Strafford 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% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
51.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater 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 |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% 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 |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,346 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Strafford School District | — | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school 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.