Compare towns
Grafton vs Highgate 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).
Highgate has the most kids (15.8% under 18).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Highgate | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666 |
3,528Highest |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Athens 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Athens 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 |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
| Highgate 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±$85kHighest 8% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
| Grafton and Highgate 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 |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
| Grafton and Athens 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Athens 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Grafton 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.