Compare towns

Tunbridge vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
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.

MeasureTunbridgeReadingChelsea
People
Population
1,253Highest
699Lowest
1,223
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.7±8.3Lowest
about the VT average
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
54.1±12.1Highest
26% above VT
Chelsea and Reading 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%±4.2Lowest
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%
28.2%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
29.4%±3.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
Chelsea and Reading 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%Highest
VT: 43.8%
29.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
4.8%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
Chelsea 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±$26kHighest
10% above VT
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
$65,913±$13kLowest
19% below VT
Tunbridge and Reading 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±$72kHighest
19% above VT
$260,900±$39kLowest
18% below VT
Reading 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
$1,100±$331Lowest
11% 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
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
$3,762Lowest
25% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
76.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
66.3%±33.2
VT: 48.4%
Tunbridge and Chelsea 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%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.2%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
31% above VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
30 minLowest
28% above VT
Work from home
25.8%±8.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
12.6%±7.8Lowest
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 First Branch Unified School District #82
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.