Compare towns
Castleton vs Middlesex vs Strafford vs Tunbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Castleton | Middlesex | Strafford | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,943 |
1,372 |
1,253Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
| Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$89,464±$26k 10% above VT |
| Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
| Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
| Tunbridge and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,645 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Tunbridge 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Strafford School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.