Compare towns
Tunbridge vs Barre vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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.
| Measure | Tunbridge | Barre | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,253Lowest |
8,412Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest 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+ | 20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.9% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest 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 | $89,464±$26k 10% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% 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 | $315,300±$23k about the VT average |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% 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 | $4,645Lowest 8% below VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.4% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.