Compare towns
Thetford vs Strafford vs Richmond vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Richmond has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% 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 | Strafford | Richmond | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,813 |
1,372Lowest |
4,159Highest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
| Strafford and Waitsfield 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% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield 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%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
63.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 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±$16k 8% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% 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 |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$422,400±$92k 33% 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 |
— | $1,200±$821Highest about the VT average |
| Waitsfield 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$6,208Lowest 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Thetford and Waitsfield 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% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and Waitsfield 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 | — |
| School district | Thetford School District | Strafford School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.