Compare towns
Tunbridge vs Reading vs Benson 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%).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Reading | Benson | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,253 |
699Lowest |
784 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.7±8.3Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Benson and Strafford 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest 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%±1.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Benson 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% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Strafford 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% 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 | $4,645 8% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Strafford School District |
| 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.