What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

Mason has the most kids (28.8% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Thetford	Mason
People
Population	2,813Highest	1,451Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S.	43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Mason and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.8%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thetford and Mason 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%	39.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Thetford and Mason 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.	$111,090±$3kHighest 38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average	$384,000±$21kHighest 15% above U.S.
	Mason 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.	$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S.	$7,049Highest 126% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±30.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mason 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%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	41 minHighest 55% above U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mason 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	Mason School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.