What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).

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	Cornish	Thetford
People
Population	1,816Lowest	2,813Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S.	43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Cornish and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Thetford and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Cornish and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	68%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Thetford and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S.	$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Cornish and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S.	$329,500±$96kHighest about the U.S. average
	Thetford and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S.	$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Cornish and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,796Lowest 86% above U.S.	$6,948Highest 123% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.7%±30.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thetford and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thetford and Cornish 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	Cornish 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.