Compare towns
Thetford vs Dorchester vs Waitsfield
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% 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 | Dorchester | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,813Highest |
410Lowest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Waitsfield 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% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Waitsfield 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% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Waitsfield 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. |
— | $84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Thetford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,500±$96k about the U.S. average |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$422,400±$92kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Thetford 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. |
— | $1,200±$821Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Waitsfield 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. |
$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$6,208 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thetford and Waitsfield 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% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waitsfield 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 | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.