Compare towns
Thetford vs Stratham vs Waitsfield
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).
Waitsfield has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,813 |
7,754Highest |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield 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% |
23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Lowest 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% |
3.8%±3Lowest 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±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,948 123% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Thetford 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Thetford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.