Compare towns
Chester 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
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Chester | Middlesex | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,943 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest 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+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% 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 | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.