What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).

Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).

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	Chester
People
Population	2,813Lowest	5,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S.	47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S.
	Chester 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%	19.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Chester 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%	17.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thetford and Chester 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%	41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Thetford and Chester 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.	$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average	$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,141±$96 19% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S.	$8,464Highest 171% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±30.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thetford and Chester 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%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	35 minHighest 33% above U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chester 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	#90 of 120 in NH
School district	Thetford School District	Chester 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.