Compare towns
Exeter vs Middlebury vs Stratton vs Richfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Richfield has the most affordable homes ($146k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Exeter | Middlebury | Stratton | Richfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
9,175Highest |
532Lowest |
1,949 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -13.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
31.8±3.7 18% below U.S. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
37±7.3 5% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Richfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Richfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
32.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$86,169±$16k 7% above U.S. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$59,833±$14kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$409,700±$30kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$400,000±$50k 20% above U.S. |
$146,400±$15kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Middlebury and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$1,156±$113 18% below U.S. |
$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S. |
$802±$72Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926 6% below U.S. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
$4,750 52% above U.S. |
$2,207Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±14.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±18.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlebury and Richfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
16 minLowest 41% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlebury and Exeter 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | RICHFIELD SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | Middlebury Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.