Compare towns

Vershire vs Bolton vs Strafford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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.

MeasureVershireBoltonStrafford
People
Population
842Lowest
1,163
1,372Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+10.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.7±9.3
6% above VT
36.3±1.7Lowest
16% below VT
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
Strafford and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.1%±4.5
VT: 17.9%
14.9%±4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Strafford and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.2%±5Highest
VT: 21.4%
6.7%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
Vershire and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
53.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6
VT: 7%
Vershire and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,618±$12kLowest
12% below VT
$111,125±$17kHighest
37% above VT
$110,833±$19k
36% above VT
Bolton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$209,100±$55kLowest
34% below VT
$311,600±$42k
about the VT average
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,117±$80Lowest
9% below VT
$1,299±$273Highest
5% above VT
$1,125±$789
9% below VT
Bolton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,640Lowest
8% below VT
$4,826
4% below VT
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
77.8%±24.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
28%±30.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48
VT: 48.4%
Vershire and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
2.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
5.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
81.6%
VT: 73.2%
88.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
9 yrs newer than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1980Lowest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
38% above VT
28 min
17% above VT
23 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
12.3%±4.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±8.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
Bolton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Strafford School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
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.