What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

Bennington has the most kids (26% 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	Bennington
People
Population	2,813Highest	1,588Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.6±6.2Highest 12% above U.S.	42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Thetford and Bennington 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%	26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.8%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thetford and Bennington 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%	33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Thetford and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,045±$16kHighest 9% above U.S.	$83,875±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.
	Thetford and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$329,500±$96kHighest about the U.S. average	$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S.
	Thetford and Bennington 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.	$1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S.
	Bennington and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,948Highest 123% above U.S.	$5,944Lowest 91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±30.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thetford and Bennington 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%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978 2 yrs older than U.S.	1978 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	37 minHighest 40% above U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bennington 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	Thetford School District	Contoocook Valley 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.