Compare towns
Athens vs Castleton vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Grafton has the most expensive homes ($343k 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 | Athens | Castleton | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
4,453Highest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$76,111±$7kHighest 6% below VT |
| Grafton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$343,200±$85kHighest 8% above VT |
| Grafton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Grafton 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.