Compare towns
Tunbridge vs Waitsfield 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 the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Waitsfield has the most renters (66.2% rent).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Waitsfield | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,253 |
193Lowest |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.7±8.3Lowest about the VT average |
74.8±13.4Highest 74% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
0%±14.7Lowest 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% |
71.5%±17.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
71.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±9.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Waitsfield 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 |
$26,384±$5kLowest 68% 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±$23kLowest about the VT average |
$453,100±$98kHighest 43% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Strafford 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 |
— | $1,125±$789Lowest 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 | $4,645Lowest 8% below VT |
$4,688 7% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.1%±49.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Strafford 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% |
3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% VT: 73.2% |
33.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
14 minLowest 40% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 25.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
31%±23.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield and Tunbridge 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 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.