Compare towns
Strafford vs Chester vs Warren
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 kids (23% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
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 | Chester | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
2,992Highest |
1,585 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT |
53.1±4.2Highest 23% above VT |
| Warren 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% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Chester 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% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.1%±4.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Warren and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$86,905±$16k 7% above VT |
| Strafford and Warren 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 |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$569,300±$123kHighest 80% above VT |
| Warren and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,750±$394Highest 42% above VT |
| Warren and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 42% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$7,284Highest 45% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.3%±26.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Warren 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
15.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
36.2%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.