Compare towns
Tunbridge vs Wilder vs Castleton 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 people working from home (25.8%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Wilder | Castleton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,253Lowest |
3,087 |
4,453Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 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%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,464±$26k 10% above VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% 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 |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Wilder 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 |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Castleton 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | First Branch Unified School District #82 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Strafford School District |
| 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 | 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.