What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).

Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Grafton	Calais
People
Population	666Lowest	1,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT	42±8.6Lowest about the VT average
Kids under 18	5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9%	22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4%	21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%	55.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.1%±5Lowest VT: 7%	7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7%
	Calais and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,111±$7kLowest 6% below VT	$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT
	Calais and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$343,200±$85kLowest 8% above VT	$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT
	Calais and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,288±$174Lowest 4% above VT	$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT
	Calais and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,843Lowest 4% below VT	$6,586Highest 31% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4%	49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Grafton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	92.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT	1976Lowest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 4% above VT	31 minHighest 32% above VT
Work from home	15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9%	23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9%
	Calais and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Athens Grafton School District	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.