What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).

Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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	Middlesex
People
Population	1,372Lowest	1,943Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT	44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT
	Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%	21.3%±3.1Lowest 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+	22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4%	20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Strafford and Middlesex 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%	54.7%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7%	5.2%±2.6Highest 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	$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT	$109,632±$13kLowest 35% 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	$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT	$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT
	Strafford and Middlesex 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	$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT
	Middlesex 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	$6,483Lowest 29% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	96.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT	1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest about the VT average	27 minHighest 17% above VT
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Middlesex 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	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.