Compare towns
Vershire vs Middlesex vs Whitingham vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Whitingham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Vershire | Middlesex | Whitingham | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 842Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,368 |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±9.3 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest 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+ | 22.2%±5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,618±$12k 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% 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 | $209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% 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 | $1,117±$80 9% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,125±$789 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 | $4,640Lowest 8% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 38% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.