Compare towns
Whiting 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
Whiting has the most affordable homes ($280k median).
Strafford has the most homeowners (88.9%).
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.
| Measure | Whiting | Strafford | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532Lowest |
1,372 |
7,220Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$86,250±$18kLowest 6% above VT |
| Strafford and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,400±$36kLowest 11% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$417,400±$31k 32% 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 | $1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,201±$120 about the VT average |
| Whiting and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,795 35% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 7% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4Highest 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | 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.