The Town FilesStrafford, Vermont
Town in Orange County · population 1,094 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $431,300
- Household income
- $110,833
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 84 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 51.4
Strafford is a town of 1,094 people in Orange County, Vermont. The median home is worth $431,300, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks better for families than 88% of Vermont towns, better for a vacation home than 87% of Vermont towns, more of a college town than 76% of Vermont towns.
How Strafford ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Strafford is worth $431,300, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $110,833, which is more affordable than 40% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $1,125 a month. 88.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Strafford | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $431,300 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $1,125 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $110,833 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 88.9% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.1% | — |
Who lives in Strafford
| People | Strafford | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.4 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.1% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.3% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.2% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 16.1% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.2% | 89.3% |
Weather in Strafford
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 6.4°F. About 39.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 84.3 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 178 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Strafford since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on June 2, 2013.
Severe weather in Orange County since 1996
Orange County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4810: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| March 2, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4762: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| July 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4720: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3595: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Orange County
Orange County had 7,898 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,315 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Strafford itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Strafford
1 public school with 130 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton School | PK-8 | 130 | 11.8 |
Towns near Strafford
- Vershire, VT6.0 mi · 672 people · home $209,100
- Tunbridge, VT6.3 mi · 1,337 people · home $315,300
- Thetford, VT6.3 mi · 2,775 people · home $329,500
- Sharon, VT7.0 mi · 1,560 people · home $346,700
- Norwich, VT7.0 mi · 3,612 people · home $637,500
- West Fairlee, VT7.9 mi · 621 people · home $237,200
- South Royalton, VT8.7 mi · 654 people · home $210,000
- Chelsea, VT9.3 mi · 1,233 people · home $260,900
Strafford questions
Is Strafford, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Strafford scores better for retirees than 73% of Vermont towns and quieter than 59%. 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.4).
How much does a house cost in Strafford?
The median owner-occupied home in Strafford is valued at $431,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $110,833, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,125 a month.
What is the weather like in Strafford?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 6.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.9 inches of precipitation a year and 84.3 inches of snow.
Does Strafford get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Strafford in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)