Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Windham vs Worcester 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).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Windham | Worcester | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 711 |
594Lowest |
831 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Windham 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$171 10% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Strafford and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,210 3% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| West Fairlee and Strafford 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None 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.