Compare towns

Strafford vs Tunbridge vs West Fairlee

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).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).

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.

MeasureStraffordTunbridgeWest Fairlee
People
Population
1,372Highest
1,253
711Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
+4.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
42.7±8.3Lowest
about the VT average
50.3±7.6
17% above VT
Strafford and West Fairlee 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%
21.1%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
13.5%±5.1Lowest
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%
20.9%±1.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
West Fairlee 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%
42.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
44.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
3.6%±2
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3Lowest
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
$89,464±$26k
10% above VT
$76,500±$16kLowest
6% below 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
$315,300±$23k
about the VT average
$237,200±$35kLowest
25% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$789
9% below VT
$1,346±$128Highest
9% above VT
$1,113±$171Lowest
10% below 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
$4,645Lowest
8% below VT
$5,210
3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±48Lowest
VT: 48.4%
76.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
50%±89.6
VT: 48.4%
Tunbridge and West Fairlee 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%
14.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.9%
VT: 73.2%
84.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
91.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1978Lowest
2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
about the VT average
31 minHighest
31% above VT
28 min
20% above VT
Work from home
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
25.8%±8.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
5.5%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Tunbridge and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Strafford School District First Branch Unified School District #82 Rivendell Interstate School District
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.