Compare towns
Thetford vs Williston vs Strafford
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Williston | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,813 |
10,144Highest |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Williston 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% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Thetford and Williston 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 8% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,948 38% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Thetford and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Strafford 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Thetford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Strafford School District |
| 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 |
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.