Compare towns

Strafford vs Hardwick 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).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k 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.

MeasureStraffordHardwickTunbridge
People
Population
1,372
2,965Highest
1,253Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+4.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
47.1±7.4
9% above VT
42.7±8.3Lowest
about the VT average
Strafford and Hardwick 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%
15.8%±4.4Lowest
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%
27%±5.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.9%±1.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Hardwick 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%
33.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
42.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±2.4Lowest
VT: 7%
3.6%±2
VT: 7%
Strafford and Tunbridge 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
$92,297±$17k
14% above VT
$89,464±$26kLowest
10% above VT
Strafford and Hardwick 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
$184,700±$39kLowest
42% below VT
$315,300±$23k
about the VT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$789
9% below VT
$875±$406Lowest
29% 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
$4,351Lowest
14% below VT
$4,645
8% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±48Lowest
VT: 48.4%
48.6%±41.3
VT: 48.4%
76.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Tunbridge and Hardwick 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%
9.7%
VT: 10.1%
14.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
76.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.2%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1962Lowest
14 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
about the VT average
29 min
23% above VT
31 minHighest
31% above VT
Work from home
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
11.8%±6Lowest
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 — #68 of 70 in VT —
School district Strafford School District Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 First Branch Unified School District #82
High school in town None in town Hazen Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.6
—
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.