Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Tunbridge vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | West Fairlee | Tunbridge | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 711Lowest |
1,253 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
42.7±8.3Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4 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+ | 29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6% VT: 43.8% |
42.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest 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 | $76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT |
$89,464±$26k 10% above 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 | $237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above 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 | $5,210 3% above VT |
$4,645Lowest 8% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest 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 | |||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.