Compare towns
Athens vs Ludlow 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 affordable homes ($240k median).
Ludlow has the most renters (48.6% rent).
Grafton has the most homeowners (89.9%).
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 | Ludlow | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
808Highest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Athens and Ludlow 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% |
30.4%±0.5 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30k 16% below VT |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
$76,111±$7kHighest 6% below VT |
| Grafton and Athens 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 |
$304,000±$32k 4% below VT |
$343,200±$85kHighest 8% above VT |
| Grafton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,018±$91Lowest 18% 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 | $5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$4,237Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Athens 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.