Compare towns
Windham vs Thetford vs Dorchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Thetford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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.
| Measure | Windham | Thetford | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
2,813 |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
68%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest 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 | $189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
— |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96k about the U.S. average |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Thetford 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #40 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham School District | Thetford School District | — |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.