Compare towns
Strafford vs Castleton vs Tunbridge vs Sharon
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).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Tunbridge has the most people working from home (25.8%).
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 | Strafford | Castleton | Tunbridge | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
4,453Highest |
1,253Lowest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Strafford and Sharon 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% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$89,464±$26k 10% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,346±$128 9% above VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Tunbridge 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,645 8% below VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.