Compare towns

Strafford vs Waterville vs Whitingham 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).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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.

MeasureStraffordWatervilleWhitinghamTunbridge
People
Population
1,372Highest
680Lowest
1,368
1,253
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
-1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+4.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
49.1±8.2
14% above VT
46.4±7.1
8% above VT
42.7±8.3Lowest
about the VT average
Strafford and Waterville 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%
20.4%±8.2
VT: 17.9%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
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%
14.4%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
31.1%±2.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.9%±1.6
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
42.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.6
VT: 7%
5.3%±3.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.2%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
3.6%±2
VT: 7%
Waterville 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
$71,250±$27k
12% below VT
$70,625±$11kLowest
13% 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
$236,300±$15kLowest
25% below VT
$262,300±$30k
17% below VT
$315,300±$23k
about the VT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$789
9% below VT
$1,110±$93
10% below VT
$673±$150Lowest
45% 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
$3,957Lowest
21% below VT
$5,055
about the VT average
$4,645
8% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±48Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±27.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
62.7%±47.3
VT: 48.4%
76.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Tunbridge and Whitingham 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%
4.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
15.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
14.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.2%
VT: 73.2%
84.2%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
about the VT average
38 min
60% above VT
38 minHighest
62% above VT
31 min
31% above VT
Work from home
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
8.5%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
9.7%±5.2
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
School district Strafford School District Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A Twin Valley Unified School District #75 First Branch Unified School District #82
High school in town None in town None in town Twin Valley Middle High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
7.8
—
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.