Compare towns
Strafford vs Middlesex vs Calais 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Middlesex | Calais | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,943Highest |
1,713 |
1,253Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
| Strafford and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$89,464±$26kLowest 10% above VT |
| Strafford and Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$315,300±$23kLowest about the VT average |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,346±$128 9% above VT |
| Calais 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 |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$4,645Lowest 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Calais 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
84.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Strafford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| 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.