What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has the most expensive homes ($367k median).

Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Andover	Thetford
People
Population	2,135Lowest	2,813Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46±11.6Highest 18% above U.S.	43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Andover and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Thetford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Andover and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	68%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Thetford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,514±$27kHighest 10% above U.S.	$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Andover and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$366,500±$44kHighest 10% above U.S.	$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average
	Andover and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,211±$190Highest 14% below U.S.	$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Andover and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,962Lowest 91% above U.S.	$6,948Highest 123% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.7%±30.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thetford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978 2 yrs older than U.S.	1978 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	11.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thetford and Andover 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	—	#40 of 70 in VT
School district	Andover School District	Thetford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.