Compare towns
Tunbridge vs Fairlee 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%).
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Chelsea has the most affordable homes ($261k 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 | Fairlee | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,253Highest |
1,066Lowest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.7±8.3Lowest about the VT average |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
54.1±12.1 26% above VT |
| Fairlee and Chelsea 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Chelsea 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% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,464±$26kHighest 10% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,300±$23kHighest about the VT average |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$260,900±$39kLowest 18% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Fairlee 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 |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,645 8% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.7%±100 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Tunbridge 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Rivendell Interstate School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.