Compare towns
Grafton vs Jay vs Windham vs Chester
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%).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Windham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666 |
471Lowest |
594 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| 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% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Chester 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Chester 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% 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 |
— | — | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843 4% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Windham 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Windham 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 | — | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.