Compare towns
Franconia vs Dorchester vs Thetford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franconia has the most expensive homes ($530k median).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Thetford has the youngest population (median age 43.6).
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 | Franconia | Dorchester | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060 |
410Lowest |
2,813Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±7 43% above U.S. |
56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Thetford and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 36.6%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,292±$28kLowest 8% above U.S. |
— | $88,045±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Thetford and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $530,300±$96kHighest 59% above U.S. |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$329,500±$96k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278Highest 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Franconia and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451Highest 139% above U.S. |
$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thetford and Dorchester 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 | Lafayette Regional 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 | 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.