What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

Jamaica has the most people working from home (23.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Strafford	Jamaica
People
Population	1,372Highest	882Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT	55.1±5.5Highest 28% above VT
	Jamaica 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%	13.7%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Strafford and Jamaica 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%	30%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4%
	Jamaica 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 VT: 43.8%	48.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7%	3.9%±3.6Lowest VT: 7%
	Strafford and Jamaica 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	$79,219±$19kLowest about the VT average
	Strafford and Jamaica 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	$347,800±$50kLowest 10% above VT
	Strafford and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT	$870±$464Lowest 29% below VT
	Strafford and Jamaica 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	$4,773Lowest 5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4%	7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Strafford and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	96.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT	1976Lowest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest about the VT average	23 minLowest 4% below VT
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	23.2%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Jamaica 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	West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.