What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

South Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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	South Hero
People
Population	1,372Lowest	1,586Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+2.6%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT	51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT
	South 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%	14.8%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Strafford and South 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%	26.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4%
	South 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%Lowest VT: 43.8%	61.9%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7%	2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7%
	Strafford and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,833±$19kLowest 36% above VT	$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT
	South Hero 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±$40kLowest 36% above VT	$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT	$1,439±$221Highest 17% above VT
	South Hero and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,149Lowest 42% above VT	$7,858Highest 56% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4%	32.6%±21Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Strafford and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	85.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT	1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest about the VT average	24 minHighest 4% above VT
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9%
	South Hero and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Strafford School District	South Hero School District
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.