Compare towns

Warren vs Strafford vs Middlebury

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Warren has the most people working from home (36.2%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 23.7).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% 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.

MeasureWarrenStraffordMiddlebury
People
Population
1,585
1,372Lowest
7,220Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+10.9%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
53.1±4.2Highest
23% above VT
51.4±4.7
19% above VT
23.7±1.3Lowest
45% below VT
Warren and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
9.3%±3.1
VT: 17.9%
23%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
8.5%±1.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
30.1%±4.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
19.8%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Warren and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60%
VT: 43.8%
53.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
61.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±4Lowest
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6
VT: 7%
40.9%±2.3Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,905±$16k
7% above VT
$110,833±$19kHighest
36% above VT
$86,250±$18kLowest
6% above VT
Strafford and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$569,300±$123kHighest
80% above VT
$431,300±$40k
36% above VT
$417,400±$31kLowest
32% above VT
Warren and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,750±$394Highest
42% above VT
$1,125±$789Lowest
9% below VT
$1,201±$120
about the VT average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,284Highest
45% above VT
$7,149
42% above VT
$6,795Lowest
35% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.3%±26.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48
VT: 48.4%
56.6%±15.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
Middlebury and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
15.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%
VT: 73.2%
88.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
56.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
1 yr newer than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1977Lowest
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
21% below VT
23 minHighest
about the VT average
15 minLowest
38% below VT
Work from home
36.2%±5Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
19.1%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #17 of 70 in VT
School district Harwood Unified Union School District #60 Strafford School District —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.