Compare towns
Charlotte vs Middlesex vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlotte has the most expensive homes ($695k median).
Middlesex has the youngest population (median age 44.4).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Charlotte | Middlesex | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,916Highest |
1,943 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±5Highest 21% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Charlotte and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest 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+ | 22.3%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Charlotte and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,375±$27kHighest 78% above VT |
$109,632±$13kLowest 35% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| Charlotte and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $695,300±$53kHighest 120% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,738±$803Highest 41% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Charlotte and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,221Highest 83% above VT |
$6,483Lowest 29% above VT |
$7,149 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.1%±28.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Charlotte and Strafford 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% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 29.8%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Charlotte and Middlesex 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 | #3 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.