Compare towns
Chester 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
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Chester | Strafford | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,372 |
1,253Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42.7±8.3Lowest about the VT average |
| Strafford and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest 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+ | 29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% 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 | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% 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 | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,645 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Strafford School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.