Compare towns
Tunbridge vs Strafford vs Bethel
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%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k 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 | Strafford | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,253Lowest |
1,372 |
1,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.7±8.3Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
50.7±3.7 18% above VT |
| Strafford and Bethel 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bethel and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$75,822±$7kLowest 7% below 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,335±$220 8% above VT |
| Tunbridge and Bethel 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,168 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22 VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Bethel 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | White River Unified School District #79 |
| 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.