Compare towns
Strafford vs Castleton vs Underhill
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).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Castleton | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
4,453Highest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
| Strafford and Underhill 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Underhill 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 |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— |
| Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,697 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill and Strafford 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Strafford School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.