Compare towns
Tunbridge vs Castleton vs Dummerston vs Chelsea
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%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
Chelsea has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Tunbridge | Castleton | Dummerston | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,253 |
4,453Highest |
2,090 |
1,223Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea and Dummerston 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% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Dummerston 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea and Dummerston 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,464±$26k 10% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
| Dummerston and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,346±$128 9% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,645Highest 8% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,762 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Tunbridge 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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.