Compare towns
Strafford vs Jay vs Chittenden
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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Chittenden has the youngest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Jay | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Highest |
471Lowest |
1,318 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
50.8±6.3Lowest 18% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
51.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| 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 36% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
| 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 36% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
— | $1,125±$488 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,346 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Jay 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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 |
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.