Compare towns
Strafford vs Eliot 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 most kids (23% under 18).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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 | Eliot | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
7,146Highest |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Lowest 31% above U.S. |
50.8±6.3Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Eliot 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% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Strafford 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% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Chittenden 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 37% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$106,250±$28k 32% above U.S. |
| 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±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$346,800±$35kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,125±$488Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Eliot 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,346 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Strafford 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% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| 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 |
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.