Compare towns
Stratton vs Barnard vs Middlesex vs Belvidere
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Barnard has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k 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 | Stratton | Barnard | Middlesex | Belvidere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
1,211 |
1,943Highest |
422Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
40.7±6.5 6% below VT |
| Middlesex and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$81,563±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$239,200±$51kLowest 24% below VT |
| Barnard and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
| Belvidere and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750 6% below VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
2.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.