What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Waitsfield has the most people working from home (31%).

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	Waitsfield
People
Population	1,372Highest	193Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT	74.8±13.4Highest 74% above VT
Kids under 18	23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%	0%±14.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4%	71.5%±17.2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%	71.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7%	5.2%±9.1Highest VT: 7%
	Waitsfield 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	$26,384±$5kLowest 68% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,300±$40kLowest 36% above VT	$453,100±$98kHighest 43% above VT
	Waitsfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$789 9% below VT	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,149Highest 42% above VT	$4,688Lowest 7% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4%	41.1%±49.6Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Strafford and Waitsfield 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%	3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	33.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT	1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest about the VT average	14 minLowest 40% below VT
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	31%±23.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Waitsfield 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 photos →

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.