Compare towns
Thetford vs Keene vs Strafford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Strafford has the most kids (23% 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 | Keene | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,813 |
22,939Highest |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Thetford 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% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,045±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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±$96k about the U.S. average |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Thetford 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. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,948 123% above U.S. |
$6,812Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Thetford School District | Keene School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.