Compare towns
Thetford vs Windham vs Waitsfield vs Strafford
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).
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 | Windham | Waitsfield | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,813 |
16,038Highest |
1,918 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%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. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2 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%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19k 37% 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. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96 19% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,948 123% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% 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% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% 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% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as 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. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Waitsfield 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 | Strafford School District |
| 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.