Compare towns

Strafford vs Wilder 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).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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.

MeasureStraffordWilderChittenden
People
Population
1,372
3,087Highest
1,318Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
+81.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
45.5±8.9Lowest
6% above VT
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%
11.8%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
13.8%±2.5
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
22.1%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
27.3%±4.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.8%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Wilder 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%
60.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
51.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.6
VT: 7%
8.1%±3.9Highest
VT: 7%
3.8%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Wilder 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
$75,143±$9kLowest
7% below 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
$273,200±$18kLowest
14% below VT
$346,800±$35k
10% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$789Lowest
9% below VT
$1,142±$451Highest
7% below VT
$1,125±$488Lowest
9% below VT
Wilder 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
$5,505
9% above VT
$5,346Lowest
6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±48Highest
VT: 48.4%
39.9%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
14.8%±55.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Strafford and Wilder 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%
9.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.9%
VT: 73.2%
62.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Lowest
4 yrs newer than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1980Lowest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
about the VT average
17 minLowest
29% below VT
28 minHighest
21% above VT
Work from home
16.1%±4.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.6%±6.7Lowest
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
School district Strafford School District — Barstow Unified Union School District #49
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.