Compare towns
Chelsea vs Tunbridge vs White River Junction
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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Tunbridge has the most people working from home (25.8%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Tunbridge | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,223Lowest |
1,253 |
3,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Chelsea and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Tunbridge 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% |
20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chelsea and Tunbridge 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 |
$89,464±$26kHighest 10% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
| Tunbridge and White River Junction 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 |
$315,300±$23kHighest about the VT average |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
| Tunbridge and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
$1,346±$128 9% above VT |
$1,222±$216Lowest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$4,645 8% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.3%±33.2 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% VT: 73.2% |
84.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and White River Junction 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 | 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.