Compare towns
Williston vs Strafford vs Barnard
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%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% 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 | Williston | Strafford | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,372 |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
| Strafford and Williston 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% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$97,581±$19kLowest 20% 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 |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$402,600±$71kLowest 27% 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 |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Barnard 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 | Strafford School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.