Compare towns
Thetford vs Windham vs Waitsfield vs Dorset
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%).
Waitsfield has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Waitsfield | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,813 |
16,038Highest |
1,918Lowest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Waitsfield 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% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Dorset 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%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Dorset 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% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Windham 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±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,948 123% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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.