Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Strafford vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Hudson has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Waitsfield | Strafford | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918 |
1,372Lowest |
25,557Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9 17% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waitsfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$124,213±$6kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$438,900±$11kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,735±$123Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,636 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waitsfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hudson and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Strafford School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.