What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).

North Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.9%).

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	North Hero
People
Population	1,372Highest	1,263Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+16.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT	54.2±6.7Highest 26% above VT
	North Hero 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%	16.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Strafford and North Hero 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%	27.3%±4Highest VT: 21.4%
	North Hero 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%	47.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7%	5.5%±2.6Highest VT: 7%
	North Hero 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	$102,143±$24kLowest 26% above VT
	Strafford and North Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,300±$40kLowest 36% above VT	$451,400±$66kHighest 43% above VT
	North Hero and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT	$1,556±$360Highest 26% above VT
	North Hero 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	$5,132Lowest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4%	56.3%±98.1Highest VT: 48.4%
	North Hero 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%	7.3%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	96.3%Highest 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	30 minHighest 28% above VT
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9%	15.4%±8.8Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Strafford and North Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Strafford School District	Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66
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.