What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).

Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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.

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

Measure	Madbury	Thetford
People
Population	2,203Lowest	2,813Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S.	43.6±6.2Highest 12% above U.S.
	Thetford and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%	15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.8%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thetford and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	68%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Thetford and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S.	$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,900±$31kHighest 43% above U.S.	$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,574±$759Highest 11% above U.S.	$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Madbury and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.7%±30.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thetford and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 4% below U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	14%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Madbury and Thetford 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	Oyster River Coop 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.