What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).

Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).

Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Marlboro	Strafford
People
Population	1,362Lowest	1,372Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+59.7%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT	51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT
Kids under 18	12%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4%	22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4%
	Strafford and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.7%Highest VT: 43.8%	53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7%	5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,135±$10kLowest 5% below VT	$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,300±$55kLowest 13% above VT	$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT
	Strafford and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT	$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT
	Marlboro and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,640Lowest 12% above VT	$7,149Highest 42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±43.6Lowest VT: 48.4%	44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4%
	Strafford and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest VT: 10.1%	5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	88.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest same as VT	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 26% below VT	23 minHighest about the VT average
Work from home	26%±11.2Highest VT: 16.9%	16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Marlboro and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Marlboro School District	Strafford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.