Compare towns
Richmond vs Strafford vs Middlebury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richmond has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% 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 | Richmond | Strafford | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159 |
1,372Lowest |
7,220Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
| Strafford and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$86,250±$18kLowest 6% above VT |
| Strafford and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$417,400±$31kLowest 32% above VT |
| Richmond and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,201±$120Highest about the VT average |
| Middlebury and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868 36% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,795Lowest 35% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and Middlebury 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 | #5 of 70 in VT | — | #17 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.