Compare towns

Bellows Falls vs Strafford vs Tunbridge

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

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.

MeasureBellows FallsStraffordTunbridge
People
Population
2,891Highest
1,372
1,253Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-12.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
+4.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
41.3±6.7Lowest
4% below VT
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
42.7±8.3
about the VT average
Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.6%±6.4
VT: 17.9%
23%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.1%±4.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Strafford and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.7%±5.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
20.9%±1.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bellows Falls and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
42.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.2%±4.3Highest
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6
VT: 7%
3.6%±2Lowest
VT: 7%
Bellows Falls and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,086±$2kLowest
31% below VT
$110,833±$19kHighest
36% above VT
$89,464±$26k
10% above VT
Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$195,600±$35kLowest
38% below VT
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
$315,300±$23k
about the VT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,038±$109Lowest
16% below VT
$1,125±$789
9% below VT
$1,346±$128Highest
9% above VT
Tunbridge and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,448Lowest
12% below VT
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
$4,645
8% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.9%±16.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48
VT: 48.4%
76.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Tunbridge and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
25.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.2%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
14% below VT
23 min
about the VT average
31 minHighest
31% above VT
Work from home
6.9%±5.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
25.8%±8.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
Tunbridge and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Strafford School District First Branch Unified School District #82
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.