What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).

Montgomery has the most affordable homes ($323k 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.

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

Measure	Strafford	Montgomery
People
Population	1,372Highest	1,047Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT	51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT
	Montgomery 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%	15.5%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Strafford and Montgomery 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%	33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.3%Highest VT: 43.8%	52.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7%	2.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7%
	Strafford and Montgomery 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	$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT	$323,200±$45kLowest about the VT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT	$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT
	Strafford and Montgomery 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	$4,326Lowest 14% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4%	76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4%
	Montgomery and Strafford 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%	15.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980 4 yrs newer than VT	1980 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest about the VT average	37 minHighest 58% above VT
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9%	16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Strafford and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Strafford School District	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.