Compare towns

Calais 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

Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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.

MeasureCalaisStraffordTunbridge
People
Population
1,713Highest
1,372
1,253Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+4.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
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
22.5%±5.4
VT: 17.9%
23%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.1%±4.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±5.2
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.9%±1.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
53.3%
VT: 43.8%
42.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6
VT: 7%
3.6%±2Lowest
VT: 7%
Calais and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,625±$27k
24% above VT
$110,833±$19kHighest
36% above VT
$89,464±$26kLowest
10% above VT
Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$390,300±$36k
23% above VT
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
$315,300±$23kLowest
about the VT average
Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$392Highest
14% above VT
$1,125±$789Lowest
9% below VT
$1,346±$128
9% above VT
Calais and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,586
31% above VT
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
$4,645Lowest
8% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48Lowest
VT: 48.4%
76.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Tunbridge and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.8%
VT: 10.1%
5.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%
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
31 minHighest
32% above VT
23 minLowest
about the VT average
31 min
31% above VT
Work from home
23.4%±7.1
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.8%±8.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
Tunbridge and Calais 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 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.