Compare towns
Athens vs Plainfield vs Windham 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).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | Plainfield | Windham | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,314Highest |
594 |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
| Windham and Grafton 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
| Windham and Grafton 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
— | $1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Grafton 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest 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 |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.