Compare towns
Strafford vs Westford 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).
Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Chittenden has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
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 | Westford | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
2,290Highest |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
44.1±8.6Lowest 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% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Westford 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% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
51.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westford 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±$19k 36% above VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$106,250±$28kLowest 31% above VT |
| Westford and Strafford 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 |
$424,500±$21k 34% above VT |
$346,800±$35kLowest 10% above VT |
| Strafford and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT |
| Westford 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 |
$6,282 25% above VT |
$5,346Lowest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Westford 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% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westford 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 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.