Compare towns
Thetford vs Brookfield vs Strafford
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).
Strafford has the most kids (23% 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.
| Measure | Thetford | Brookfield | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,813Highest |
567Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96Highest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Thetford and Strafford 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thetford and Strafford 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% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Brookfield 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 | — | Strafford School District |
| 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.