Compare towns

Mapleton vs Strafford 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

Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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.

MeasureMapletonStraffordThetford
People
Population
1,884
1,372Lowest
2,813Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±6Lowest
7% above U.S.
51.4±4.7Highest
32% above U.S.
43.6±6.2
12% above U.S.
Strafford and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
23%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Strafford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.8%±6
U.S.: 17.2%
Strafford and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
68%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Thetford and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,731±$25k
14% above U.S.
$110,833±$19kHighest
37% above U.S.
$88,045±$16kLowest
9% above U.S.
Strafford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$431,300±$40kHighest
30% above U.S.
$329,500±$96k
about the U.S. average
Strafford and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,125±$789
20% below U.S.
$1,141±$96Highest
19% below U.S.
Thetford and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$7,149Highest
129% above U.S.
$6,948
123% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±48
U.S.: 51.1%
49.7%±30.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thetford and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
10.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.6%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Strafford 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 RSU 79/MSAD 01 Strafford School District Thetford School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.