Compare towns
Grafton vs Calais vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Grafton | Calais | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
1,713Highest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
| Grafton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest 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±$7k 6% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below 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±$85k 8% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below 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±$174 4% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below 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 |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Grafton 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% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None 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.