Compare towns

Bridgewater 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

Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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.

MeasureBridgewaterStraffordTunbridge
People
Population
980Lowest
1,372Highest
1,253
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
+4.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
57.1±8Highest
32% above VT
51.4±4.7
19% above VT
42.7±8.3Lowest
about the VT average
Bridgewater and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±5.8Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.1%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.2%±0.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
20.9%±1.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
42.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±3.8Highest
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6
VT: 7%
3.6%±2Lowest
VT: 7%
Bridgewater and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,272±$3kLowest
13% 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
$218,300±$55kLowest
31% below VT
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
$315,300±$23k
about the VT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$850±$778Lowest
31% 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
$3,418Lowest
32% below VT
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
$4,645
8% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.7%±39.1
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48Lowest
VT: 48.4%
76.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Tunbridge and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%
VT: 73.2%
88.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
same as VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
23 minLowest
about the VT average
31 minHighest
31% above VT
Work from home
10.5%±6.6Lowest
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.