What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).

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	Madison	Thetford
People
Population	2,680Lowest	2,813Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S.	43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Madison and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22%	15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Madison and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Madison and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	68%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Thetford and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S.	$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Madison and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S.	$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average
	Madison and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S.	$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,074Lowest 31% above U.S.	$6,948Highest 123% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.7%±30.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Madison and Thetford 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	94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thetford and Madison 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	Madison 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.