Compare towns
Thetford vs Reading vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
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 | Reading | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,813Highest |
699Lowest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Reading and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Thetford and Reading 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 8% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset 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 4% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96 8% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,948 38% above VT |
$5,754Lowest 14% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.