Compare towns
Thetford vs Orford vs Newfields vs Dorset
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%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Dorset has the most kids (24% 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 | Orford | Newfields | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,813Highest |
1,295Lowest |
2,023 |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
| Orford and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Newfields 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% |
25.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orford 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Thetford 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. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,500±$96k about the U.S. average |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Dorset 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. |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
| Newfields and Dorset 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. |
$5,836Lowest 87% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Thetford 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Newfields 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Newfields School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— | — |
| 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.