Compare towns
Strafford vs Williston vs Cavendish 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 oldest population (median age 51.4).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k 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 | Williston | Cavendish | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
10,144Highest |
1,242Lowest |
1,253 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
42.7±8.3Lowest about the VT average |
| Strafford and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Cavendish 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$89,063±$29kLowest 10% above VT |
$89,464±$26k 10% above VT |
| Strafford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,346±$128 9% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,645 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | 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 Our Story | 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.