Compare towns
Thetford vs Barnstead vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Barnstead has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Thetford | Barnstead | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,813 |
4,994Highest |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Thetford 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%±5 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Dorset 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±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dorset and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,948 123% above U.S. |
$6,003Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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 |
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.