Compare towns
Thetford vs Strafford vs Norwich 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%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
East Montpelier has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Strafford | Norwich | East Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,813 |
1,372Lowest |
3,640Highest |
2,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2 about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below 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% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
59.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.8%±2Lowest 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 |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$92,778±$21k 14% above VT |
| Norwich 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 4% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$378,700±$32k 20% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96 8% below VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,187±$131 4% below VT |
| Norwich and East Montpelier 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 |
$7,149 42% above VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$5,868Lowest 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
20 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
21.2%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| East Montpelier and Norwich 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | #15 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Thetford School District | Strafford School District | Norwich 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.