Compare towns
Athens vs Shoreham 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).
Shoreham has the most kids (18% 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 | Shoreham | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,269Highest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
51.8±7.2 20% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Grafton and Shoreham 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% |
18%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Shoreham 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% |
26.1%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.2% VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
1.7%±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 |
$93,654±$23kHighest 15% above VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
| Shoreham 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 |
$316,400±$34k about the VT average |
$343,200±$85kHighest 8% above VT |
| Grafton and Shoreham 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 |
$1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
$1,288±$174 4% above VT |
| Shoreham and Grafton 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 |
$4,713Lowest 6% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest 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% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.