Compare towns

Strafford vs Thetford 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 the most kids (23% under 18).
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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.

MeasureStraffordThetfordChittenden
People
Population
1,372
2,813Highest
1,318Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
+7.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
43.6±6.2Lowest
about the VT average
50.8±6.3
18% above VT
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
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.8
VT: 17.9%
13.8%±2.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Strafford and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.1%±3.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.8%±6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.8%±4
VT: 21.4%
Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.3%
VT: 43.8%
68%Highest
VT: 43.8%
51.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.6
VT: 7%
6.7%±4.5Highest
VT: 7%
3.8%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Thetford 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
$88,045±$16kLowest
8% above 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
$329,500±$96kLowest
4% above VT
$346,800±$35k
10% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$789Lowest
9% below VT
$1,141±$96Highest
8% below VT
$1,125±$488Lowest
9% below VT
Thetford 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
$6,948
38% above VT
$5,346Lowest
6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±48
VT: 48.4%
49.7%±30.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
14.8%±55.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Thetford 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%
8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.9%
VT: 73.2%
84.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1978Lowest
2 yrs newer than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
about the VT average
23 minLowest
4% below VT
28 minHighest
21% above VT
Work from home
16.1%±4.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.6%±6.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
15%±3.6
VT: 16.9%
Strafford and Chittenden 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 — #40 of 70 in VT —
School district Strafford School District Thetford 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

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.