Compare towns
Strafford vs Sutton vs Westminster vs Chittenden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Chittenden has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Sutton | Westminster | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
790Lowest |
2,999Highest |
1,318 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
| Westminster 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
51.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Westminster 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 |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
— | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$5,346 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Strafford 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.