The Town FilesThetford, Vermont
Town in Orange County · population 2,775 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $329,500
- Household income
- $88,045
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 61 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 43.6
Thetford is a town of 2,775 people in Orange County, Vermont. The median home is worth $329,500, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks better for retirees than 89% of Vermont towns, more upscale than 88% of Vermont towns, better for cycling than 86% of Vermont towns.
How Thetford ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Thetford is worth $329,500, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $88,045, which is more affordable than 46% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $1,141 a month. 84.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Thetford | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $329,500 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $1,141 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $88,045 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 84.1% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.6% | — |
Who lives in Thetford
| People | Thetford | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 15.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 68.0% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 13.6% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.9% | 89.3% |
Weather in Thetford
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 6.4°F. About 39.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 60.6 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 178 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Thetford since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Vermont town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 16, 2024 about 5.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 16, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 29, 2012.
Severe weather in Orange County since 1996
Orange County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4810: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| March 2, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4762: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| July 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4720: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3595: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Orange County
Orange County had 7,898 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,315 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Thetford itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Thetford
1 public school with 189 students, about 9.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thetford Elementary School | PK-6 | 189 | 9.5 |
Towns near Thetford
- Norwich, VT5.5 mi · 3,612 people · home $637,500
- Hanover, NH8.6 mi · 11,870 people · home $824,900
- Hanover, NH8.7 mi · 9,078 people · home $842,600
- Wilder, VT11.5 mi · 3,071 people · home $273,200
- Bradford, VT12.9 mi · 2,790 people · home $258,600
- White River Junction, VT13.5 mi · 2,532 people · home $278,800
- Hartford, VT13.7 mi · 10,686 people · home $304,500
- Lebanon, NH13.9 mi · 14,282 people · home $385,400
Thetford questions
Is Thetford, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Thetford scores better for retirees than 89% of Vermont towns and quieter than 75%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.6).
How much does a house cost in Thetford?
The median owner-occupied home in Thetford is valued at $329,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,045, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,141 a month.
What is the weather like in Thetford?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 6.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.9 inches of precipitation a year and 60.6 inches of snow.
Does Thetford get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Thetford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 16, 2024. The typical Vermont town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)