Compare towns

Stratton vs Whiting vs Wardsboro 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).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Wardsboro has the most people working from home (13.3%).
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.

MeasureStrattonWhitingWardsboroBelvidere
People
Population
532
532
820Highest
422Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
-3.4%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
31.5±4.1Lowest
27% below VT
39.6±2.7
8% below VT
51.6±7.3Highest
20% above VT
40.7±6.5
6% below VT
Wardsboro 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%
23.5%±6.9
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.5Lowest
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%
13%±5.1
VT: 21.4%
27.4%±3.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
8.8%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.2%
VT: 43.8%
25.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
38.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
35.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±2.8
VT: 7%
6.2%±4Highest
VT: 7%
0.9%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
1.4%±1.3
VT: 7%
Whiting and Belvidere 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
$91,250±$38k
12% above VT
$62,000±$6kLowest
24% below 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
$280,400±$36k
11% below VT
$299,300±$47k
5% below VT
$239,200±$51kLowest
24% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,208±$979
about the VT average
$1,204±$519Lowest
about the VT average
$1,479±$224
20% above VT
$1,542±$1kHighest
25% above VT
Belvidere and Wardsboro 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
$4,227
16% below VT
$4,345
14% below VT
$3,908Lowest
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
12%±69.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
58.3%±37.3
VT: 48.4%
54.5%±58
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%
11.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.7%
VT: 10.1%
5.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.3%
VT: 73.2%
65.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
86.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988
12 yrs newer than VT
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
39% above VT
22 minLowest
7% below VT
27 min
14% above VT
38 minHighest
60% above VT
Work from home
3.3%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
10%±5.4
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±5.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±7.6
VT: 16.9%
Wardsboro and Whiting 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 River Valleys Unified School District #73 —
High school in town — None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.