Compare towns
Thetford vs Stratham vs Dorset
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 the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Stratham | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,813 |
7,754Highest |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Thetford 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% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Stratham 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. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Dorset 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 |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Thetford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | 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 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.