What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Chittenden has the highest household income ($106k).

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	Chittenden
People
Population	2,813Highest	1,318Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest VT: +2.8%	-1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average	50.8±6.3Highest 18% above VT
	Chittenden and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.4%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9%	13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Thetford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±6Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.8%±4Highest VT: 21.4%
	Chittenden 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%Highest VT: 43.8%	51.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7%	3.8%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%
	Thetford and Chittenden 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 8% above VT	$106,250±$28kHighest 31% above VT
	Chittenden 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 4% above VT	$346,800±$35kHighest 10% above VT
	Chittenden and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,141±$96Highest 8% below VT	$1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT
	Thetford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,948Highest 38% above VT	$5,346Lowest 6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±30.1Highest VT: 48.4%	14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Thetford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest VT: 10.1%	6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	93.5%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 4% below VT	28 minHighest 21% above VT
Work from home	13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	15%±3.6Highest VT: 16.9%
	Chittenden 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	Barstow Unified Union School District #49
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT 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.