Compare towns
Strafford vs Highgate vs Thetford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k 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.
| Measure | Strafford | Highgate | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average |
| Strafford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
68%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest 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 | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$88,045±$16k 8% above VT |
| Strafford and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below 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 | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,141±$96Highest 8% below VT |
| Thetford and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,948 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest 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 | 5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Strafford School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.