Compare towns
Athens vs Randolph 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%).
Randolph has the most kids (17.3% under 18).
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 | Randolph | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
4,843Highest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Randolph 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% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Grafton 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 |
$76,758±$6kHighest 5% below VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
| Randolph 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 |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$343,200±$85kHighest 8% above VT |
| Grafton and Randolph 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 |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Randolph 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 |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | — | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— |
| 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.