Compare towns
Strafford vs Douglas 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Chittenden has the most affordable homes ($347k 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 | Douglas | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
9,207Highest |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% 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% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Chittenden 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% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$106,250±$28kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$346,800±$35kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Douglas 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 20% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,125±$488Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$5,346Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Douglas | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— |
| 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.