Compare towns
Athens vs Grafton vs Ripton vs Windham
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 affordable homes ($240k median).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
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 | Grafton | Ripton | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
666Highest |
508 |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Ripton and Windham 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 |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
— | — |
| Grafton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 8% above VT |
$4,843Lowest 4% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Athens Grafton School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.