Compare towns
Grafton vs Dummerston vs Townshend
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).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Dummerston | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
2,090Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
| Grafton and Townshend 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Townshend 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 |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Dummerston and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,200±$85kHighest 8% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
| Grafton and Dummerston 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 |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
| Dummerston and Grafton 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 |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.