Compare towns
Marlboro vs Strafford vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
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.
| Measure | Marlboro | Strafford | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,362 |
1,372Highest |
847Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +59.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
| Strafford and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Strafford 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% VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,300±$55k 13% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below 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±$789 9% below VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% 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 | $5,640 12% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,991Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±43.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Strafford 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 26% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 26%±11.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Marlboro 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 | Halifax 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.