Compare towns
Thetford vs Dorset vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Dorset | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,813Highest |
2,092 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Strafford 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% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Thetford and Strafford 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 |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| Dorset and Strafford 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 |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96 8% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Dorset and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,948Lowest 38% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$7,149 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.