Compare towns

Strafford vs Thetford vs Worcester

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).
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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.

MeasureStraffordThetfordWorcester
People
Population
1,372
2,813Highest
831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
+7.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
43.6±6.2Lowest
about the VT average
47±2.7
9% above VT
Strafford and Worcester 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%
15.4%±4.8
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Strafford and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.1%±3.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.8%±6
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
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+
53.3%
VT: 43.8%
68%Highest
VT: 43.8%
53%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.6Lowest
VT: 7%
6.7%±4.5
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
Worcester and Thetford 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
$88,045±$16k
8% above VT
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below 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
$329,500±$96k
4% above VT
$271,100±$27kLowest
14% below 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
$1,141±$96Highest
8% below VT
$1,023±$136Lowest
17% 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
$6,948
38% above VT
$4,421Lowest
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±48
VT: 48.4%
49.7%±30.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37Lowest
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%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
1976Lowest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
about the VT average
23 minLowest
4% below VT
29 minHighest
22% above VT
Work from home
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
13.6%±6.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
Worcester and Strafford 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 Strafford School District Thetford School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
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.