Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Middlebury vs Stratton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Middlebury has the most people working from home (18.8%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Wardsboro | Middlebury | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 820 |
9,175Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
31.8±3.7 26% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
| Middlebury and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,156±$113Lowest 6% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
| Wardsboro and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury and Wardsboro 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | — |
| 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.