Compare towns
Windham vs Middlesex vs Strafford vs Worcester
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 most expensive homes ($431k median).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Windham | Middlesex | Strafford | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,372 |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%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 |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Strafford and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below 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±$20k 12% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below 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±$789 9% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% 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 | $5,951 18% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below 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% |
25.5%±37 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.