Compare towns
Thetford vs Rye 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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Rye | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,813 |
5,611Highest |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Rye and Strafford 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% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 9% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Rye and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96 19% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #40 of 70 in VT | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Thetford School District | Rye School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.

