Compare towns
Grafton vs Castleton vs Windham vs Athens
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).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Athens has the most renters (26.3% 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 | Grafton | Castleton | Windham | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666 |
4,453Highest |
594 |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
| Windham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
— | $1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT |
| Grafton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843 4% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,438 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Athens 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.