Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Middlebury vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% 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 | West Fairlee | Middlebury | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 711Lowest |
9,175Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
$409,700±$30k 29% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,156±$113Highest 6% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Middlebury and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,210Lowest 3% above VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury and Strafford 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | None in town |
| 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.