Compare towns

Strafford vs Hope 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 expensive homes ($431k median).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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.

MeasureStraffordHopeChittenden
People
Population
1,372
1,748Highest
1,318Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.4±4.7Highest
32% above U.S.
44.6±3.1Lowest
15% 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%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hope 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
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±1.3Lowest
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%
47.4%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%±1.3Lowest
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.
$86,766±$6kLowest
7% 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±$40kHighest
30% above U.S.
$373,400±$33k
12% above U.S.
$346,800±$35kLowest
4% above U.S.
Strafford and Hope 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.
$1,219±$182Highest
14% below U.S.
$1,125±$488Lowest
20% below U.S.
Hope 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.
$3,842Lowest
23% above U.S.
$5,346
71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±48Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.8%±38.7
U.S.: 51.1%
14.8%±55.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Strafford and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
16.1%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
18.3%±10.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hope and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Strafford School District Hope Public Schools 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.