Compare towns
Stratton vs Ira vs Whiting vs Belvidere
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k 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 | Stratton | Ira | Whiting | Belvidere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Highest |
381Lowest |
532Highest |
422 |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
40.7±6.5 6% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$81,563±$18k about the VT average |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$239,200±$51kLowest 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
| Belvidere and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Whiting and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.