Compare towns
Thetford vs Exeter 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 most affordable homes ($330k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,813 |
16,151Highest |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waitsfield and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Waitsfield 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. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Waitsfield 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Thetford 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Waitsfield 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Thetford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.