Compare towns
Grafton vs Highgate vs Jamaica
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Jamaica has the most people working from home (23.2%).
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 | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
3,528Highest |
882 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
55.1±5.5 28% above VT |
| Grafton and Jamaica 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% |
15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Jamaica 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%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30%±8.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Jamaica 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Jamaica 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 |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$79,219±$19k about the VT average |
| Highgate and Jamaica 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 |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$347,800±$50kHighest 10% above VT |
| Jamaica 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 |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$870±$464Lowest 29% below VT |
| Grafton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843Highest 4% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,773 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Highgate 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jamaica 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| 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.