Compare towns
West Windsor vs Barre vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | West Windsor | Barre | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,171Lowest |
8,412Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| West Windsor and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±10 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| West Windsor and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| West Windsor and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$18k 34% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,500±$41k 24% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$217 11% below VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Strafford and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,860 16% above VT |
$5,192Lowest 3% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±3.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.