Compare towns

Newfields vs Thetford vs Topsham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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.

MeasureNewfieldsThetfordTopsham
People
Population
2,023Lowest
2,813
9,706Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
43.6±6.2Lowest
12% above U.S.
44.7±4Highest
15% above U.S.
Topsham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Topsham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.8%±6
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Topsham and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
68%
U.S.: 35.7%
50%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±4.5
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$88,045±$16kLowest
9% above U.S.
$91,028±$10k
13% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$329,500±$96kLowest
about the U.S. average
$360,800±$20k
8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,141±$96Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,355±$642
4% below U.S.
Newfields and Topsham 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.
$6,948
123% above U.S.
$4,259Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
49.7%±30.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thetford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
24 min
11% below U.S.
Work from home
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.6%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #40 of 70 in VT #66 of 133 in ME
School district Newfields School District Thetford School District RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town None in town None in town Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.2
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.