Compare towns

Windham vs Middlesex vs Strafford

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).

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.

MeasureWindhamMiddlesexStrafford
People
Population
594Lowest
1,943Highest
1,372
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
44.4±3.9
3% above VT
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.3%±3.1
VT: 17.9%
23%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
Windham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
53.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6
VT: 7%
Middlesex and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12kLowest
16% above VT
$109,632±$13k
35% above VT
$110,833±$19kHighest
36% above VT
Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20kLowest
12% above VT
$376,300±$40k
19% above VT
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,333±$359Highest
8% above VT
$1,125±$789Lowest
9% below VT
Middlesex and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Lowest
18% above VT
$6,483
29% above VT
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48Highest
VT: 48.4%
Strafford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
5.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1980Lowest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
27 minHighest
17% above VT
23 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Strafford School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
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.