Compare towns

Strafford vs Wallingford vs Williston

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).
Wallingford has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

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.

MeasureStraffordWallingfordWilliston
People
Population
1,372Lowest
2,286
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+2.4%
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
45.9±10.8
6% above VT
45.4±4.5Lowest
5% above VT
Strafford and Wallingford 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%
18.7%±5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
Strafford and Williston 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%
23.9%±3.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Wallingford 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%
VT: 43.8%
30.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.6
VT: 7%
1.5%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
Williston 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
$80,230±$15kLowest
about the VT average
$106,967±$12k
32% above VT
Strafford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$431,300±$40k
36% above VT
$261,900±$44kLowest
17% below VT
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
Williston 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
$891±$95Lowest
28% below VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
Williston 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
$4,355Lowest
14% below VT
$5,592
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±48
VT: 48.4%
14.3%±13.5Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%
VT: 10.1%
7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.5%
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
about the VT average
25 minHighest
6% above VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
Work from home
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
7.1%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Williston 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 — — #11 of 70 in VT
School district Strafford School District Mill River Unified Union School District #52 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.