Compare towns
Dorset vs Grafton vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
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 | Dorset | Grafton | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
666 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$76,111±$7kLowest 6% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Dorset and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$343,200±$85kLowest 8% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,288±$174Lowest 4% above VT |
— |
| Dorset and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,843Lowest 4% below VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Athens Grafton School District | — |
| High school in town | None 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.