Compare towns
Thetford vs Richmond vs Strafford vs East Montpelier
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%).
Richmond has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
East Montpelier has the shortest commute (20 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 | Richmond | Strafford | East Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,813 |
4,159Highest |
1,372Lowest |
2,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
46.7±4 8% above VT |
| Strafford and East Montpelier 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% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±6 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68%Highest VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.8%±2 VT: 7% |
| 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 8% above VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$92,778±$21k 14% above VT |
| Strafford and Richmond 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 |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$378,700±$32k 20% above VT |
| Richmond and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96 8% below VT |
— | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,187±$131Highest 4% below VT |
| East Montpelier 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 |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,868Lowest 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
19.3%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
21.2%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and East Montpelier 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 | #5 of 70 in VT | — | #15 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Thetford School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Strafford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | U-32 Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.