Compare towns
Montpelier 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
Montpelier has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Montpelier | Stratton | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,014Highest |
532Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Montpelier and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,030±$6kLowest about the VT average |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Stratton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,100±$21kLowest 18% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Stratton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$113 6% above VT |
$1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Montpelier and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 23% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 | #9 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Montpelier High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.