Compare towns
Dummerston vs Strafford vs Stratton vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Dummerston | Strafford | Stratton | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
1,372 |
532Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Strafford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest 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 | $101,696±$21kLowest 25% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Stratton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Strafford School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 | 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.