Compare towns
Strafford vs Middlesex vs Worcester vs Vershire
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Worcester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
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 | Middlesex | Worcester | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,943Highest |
831Lowest |
842 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
45.7±9.3 6% above VT |
| Strafford and Worcester 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%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±4.5 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%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Vershire and Strafford 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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±$13k 35% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$71,618±$12kLowest 12% below 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±$40k 19% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$209,100±$55kLowest 34% below 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±$789 9% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,117±$80 9% below 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 |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,640 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.