Compare towns
Williston vs Barnet vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Strafford has the most homeowners (88.9%).
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 | Williston | Barnet | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,855 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Strafford 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.