Compare towns
Middlesex vs Reading vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Middlesex | Reading | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Highest |
699Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 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 | $109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% 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 | $376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below 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 | $6,483 29% above VT |
$5,754Lowest 14% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Strafford 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.