Compare towns
Salisbury vs Strafford vs Thetford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Thetford has the youngest population (median age 43.6).
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 | Salisbury | Strafford | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,200Lowest |
1,372 |
2,813Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average |
| Strafford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
68%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 | $99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$88,045±$16kLowest 8% above VT |
| Strafford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $306,900±$51kLowest 3% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$329,500±$96k 4% above VT |
| Strafford and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,141±$96 8% below VT |
| Salisbury and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,842Lowest 4% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,948 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
49.7%±30.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Thetford and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 20% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.