Compare towns
Franconia vs Thetford vs Orford
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).
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Franconia | Thetford | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
2,813Highest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Orford 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% |
15.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest 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%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
68%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Lowest 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±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Orford and Thetford 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. |
$329,500±$96k about the U.S. average |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
| Franconia and Orford 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. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
$5,836Lowest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thetford and Franconia 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.