Compare towns
Stratton vs Manchester 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 highest household income ($123k).
Manchester has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Manchester | Belvidere |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532 |
4,486Highest |
422Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
40.7±6.5 6% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Belvidere 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% |
25.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
$81,563±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$454,600±$47kHighest 44% above VT |
$239,200±$51kLowest 24% below VT |
| Manchester and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
$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 | $4,750 6% below VT |
$5,923Highest 18% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Manchester 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% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.8% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #37 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| High school 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.