Compare towns

Strafford vs Vershire vs West Fairlee

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%).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
West Fairlee has the most homeowners (91.9%).

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.

MeasureStraffordVershireWest Fairlee
People
Population
1,372Highest
842
711Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-7.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-4.8%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
45.7±9.3Lowest
6% above VT
50.3±7.6
17% above VT
Strafford and West Fairlee 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%
19.1%±4.5
VT: 17.9%
13.5%±5.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Strafford and Vershire 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%
22.2%±5
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
West Fairlee and Vershire 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%
31.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
44.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.6
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Vershire 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
$71,618±$12kLowest
12% below VT
$76,500±$16k
6% below VT
Strafford and West Fairlee 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
$209,100±$55kLowest
34% below VT
$237,200±$35k
25% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$789Highest
9% below VT
$1,117±$80
9% below VT
$1,113±$171Lowest
10% below VT
Strafford and Vershire 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
$4,640Lowest
8% below VT
$5,210
3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±48Lowest
VT: 48.4%
77.8%±24.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
50%±89.6
VT: 48.4%
Vershire and West Fairlee 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%
19.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.9%
VT: 73.2%
81.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
91.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1985Highest
9 yrs newer than VT
1978Lowest
2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
about the VT average
32 minHighest
38% above VT
28 min
20% above VT
Work from home
16.1%±4.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.3%±4.1
VT: 16.9%
5.5%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Strafford and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Strafford School District — Rivendell Interstate School District
High school 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.