Compare towns
Thetford vs Brookfield 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).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
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 | Brookfield | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,813Highest |
567Lowest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
8.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%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% |
5.5%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,045±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$81,406±$31kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Dorset 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 |
$428,000±$61k 29% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dorset and Thetford 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. |
$5,926Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1Lowest 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% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±6.8 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 | — | — |
| School district | Thetford School District | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school 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.