Compare towns
Strafford vs Benson vs Tunbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Strafford | Benson | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Highest |
784Lowest |
1,253 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
42.7±8.3Lowest about the VT average |
| Benson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest 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+ | 22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below 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 | $431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% 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 | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,645 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Strafford School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.