Compare towns
Thetford vs Hampton Falls vs Strafford vs Norwich
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).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Hampton Falls | Strafford | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,813 |
2,328 |
1,372Lowest |
3,640Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Hampton Falls 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% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 9% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96 19% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thetford and Strafford 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Norwich 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 | — | — | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Thetford School District | Hampton Falls School District | Strafford School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.