Compare towns
Strafford vs Middlebury vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% 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 | Strafford | Middlebury | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
9,175Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Strafford and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$409,700±$30k 29% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Strafford and Middlebury 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 |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Middlebury 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 |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest 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 | 5.2% VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury and Strafford 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.