Compare towns
Orford vs Norwich vs Thetford vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
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.
| Measure | Orford | Norwich | Thetford | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,295Lowest |
3,640Highest |
2,813 |
2,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96k about the U.S. average |
$288,300±$22k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,836 87% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
$5,418Lowest 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thetford and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Norwich 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | #40 of 70 in VT | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Norwich School District | Thetford School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Rivendell Academy | None in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Highest |
— | — | 8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.