Compare towns
Strafford vs Cavendish vs Braintree vs Vershire
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 most expensive homes ($431k median).
Cavendish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
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 | Cavendish | Braintree | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372Highest |
1,242 |
1,026 |
842Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.7±9.3 6% above VT |
| Braintree 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% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Vershire 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 |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$71,618±$12kLowest 12% below VT |
| Strafford and Cavendish 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 |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,117±$80 9% below VT |
| Strafford and Vershire 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 |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,640 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire 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% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Strafford School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.