Compare towns
Grafton vs Jay vs Ripton vs Windham
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).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
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 | Jay | Ripton | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666Highest |
471Lowest |
508 |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Grafton and Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Ripton and Windham 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Ripton and Windham 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 |
— | — | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843 4% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Ripton 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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 | 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.