Compare towns
Thetford vs Windham vs Newfields 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Windham | Newfields | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,813 |
16,038Highest |
2,023 |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Newfields 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Waitsfield 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% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Thetford 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. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Windham 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 |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
| Windham and Newfields 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. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,948 123% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Thetford School District | Windham School District | Newfields School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.