Compare towns

Brighton 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

Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k 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.

MeasureBrightonStraffordTunbridge
People
Population
1,167Lowest
1,372Highest
1,253
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
+4.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.2±11.6
5% above VT
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
42.7±8.3Lowest
about the VT average
Strafford and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±5.7Lowest
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+
27.2%±4.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
20.9%±1.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Brighton and Strafford 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%Highest
VT: 43.8%
42.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±2.4
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
3.6%±2Lowest
VT: 7%
Strafford and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$47,375±$21kLowest
42% 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
$163,900±$39kLowest
48% below VT
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
$315,300±$23k
about the VT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$775±$33Lowest
37% 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
$3,360Lowest
33% below VT
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
$4,645
8% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55%±17
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48Lowest
VT: 48.4%
76.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Tunbridge and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
22%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.2%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
41% above VT
23 minLowest
about the VT average
31 min
31% above VT
Work from home
12.4%±8.1Lowest
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 Brighton School District Strafford School District First Branch Unified School District #82
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

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.