Compare towns
Strafford vs Richmond vs Lyme vs Chittenden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Richmond has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Chittenden has the most affordable homes ($347k 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 | Richmond | Lyme | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
4,159Highest |
1,710 |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24k 34% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$106,250±$28kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39k 30% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$346,800±$35kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
— | $1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$488Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 129% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,346Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Lyme School District | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.