Compare towns
Thetford vs Stratton 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).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Waitsfield has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Stratton | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,813Highest |
532Lowest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2 about the VT average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
44.3±5.3Highest about the VT average |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Waitsfield 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Thetford and Waitsfield 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
| Stratton and Thetford 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 |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
| Stratton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,948Highest 38% above VT |
$4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
$6,208 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield and Thetford 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 | — | — |
| School district | Thetford School District | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.