What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thetford has the shortest commute (23 min average).

Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Thetford	Barnstead
People
Population	2,813Lowest	4,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.6±6.2Highest 12% above U.S.	42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Thetford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	21%±5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Barnstead and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thetford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Thetford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S.	$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Barnstead and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average	$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S.
	Barnstead and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,948Highest 123% above U.S.	$6,003Lowest 92% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±30.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thetford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thetford and Barnstead 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	#111 of 120 in NH
School district	Thetford School District	Barnstead School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.