Compare towns
Strafford vs Montpelier vs Vershire
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 highest household income ($111k).
Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k 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 | Montpelier | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
8,014Highest |
842Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.7±9.3 6% above VT |
| Strafford and Vershire 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% |
17.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Vershire 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% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5 VT: 21.4% |
| Montpelier and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Vershire and Strafford 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 |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
$71,618±$12kLowest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
$209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
| Strafford and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$1,117±$80Lowest 9% below VT |
| Montpelier and Strafford 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 |
$6,936 38% above VT |
$4,640Lowest 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire 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% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Montpelier High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
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| 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.