Compare towns
Stratton vs Montpelier 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).
Montpelier has the most people working from home (26.9%).
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 | Montpelier | Belvidere |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532 |
8,014Highest |
422Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
42.3±2.4Highest about the VT average |
40.7±6.5 6% below VT |
| Montpelier and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5Lowest 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% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the VT average |
$81,563±$18k about the VT average |
| Stratton and Belvidere 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 |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
$239,200±$51kLowest 24% below VT |
| Stratton and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average |
$1,302±$113 6% above VT |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
| Belvidere and Montpelier 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 |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Montpelier 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% |
6.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | — |
| High school in town | — | Montpelier High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.