What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Thetford	West Fairlee
People
Population	2,813Highest	711Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest VT: +2.8%	-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average	50.3±7.6Highest 17% above VT
	West Fairlee and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.4%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9%	13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Thetford and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±6Lowest VT: 21.4%	29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4%
	West Fairlee 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%	44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7%	2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Thetford and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,045±$16kHighest 8% above VT	$76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT
	Thetford and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$329,500±$96kHighest 4% above VT	$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT
	Thetford and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,141±$96Highest 8% below VT	$1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT
	Thetford and West Fairlee 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	$5,210Lowest 3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±30.1Lowest VT: 48.4%	50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4%
	West Fairlee and Thetford 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%	7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	91.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978 2 yrs newer than VT	1978 2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 4% below VT	28 minHighest 20% above VT
Work from home	13.6%±6.3Highest VT: 16.9%	5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Thetford and West Fairlee 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	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.