What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).

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

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	Strafford	Marlboro
People
Population	1,372Highest	1,362Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+59.7%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT	22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT
Kids under 18	23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%	12%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4%	18.8%±3.7Lowest 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+	53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%	53.7%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7%	42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT	$77,135±$10kLowest 5% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT	$357,300±$55kLowest 13% 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	$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT	$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT
	Marlboro and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,149Highest 42% above VT	$5,640Lowest 12% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4%	39.1%±43.6Lowest 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	5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%	7.9%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	84.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT	1976Lowest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest about the VT average	17 minLowest 26% below VT
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	26%±11.2Highest 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	Strafford School District	Marlboro 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.