Compare towns
Chelsea 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
Chelsea has the most affordable homes ($261k 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.
| Measure | Chelsea | Strafford | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,223Lowest |
1,372Highest |
1,253 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
42.7±8.3Lowest about the VT average |
| Chelsea and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,913±$13kLowest 19% 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 | $260,900±$39kLowest 18% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,346±$128 9% above VT |
| Chelsea and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,645 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.3%±33.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%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 | 30 min 28% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.8Lowest 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | 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 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.