Compare towns
Strafford vs Rye 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).
Rye has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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 | Rye | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
5,611Highest |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
50.8±6.3Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Rye 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%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% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$106,250±$28kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$346,800±$35kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,125±$488Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$5,346Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Rye 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 Our Story | 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.