Compare towns
Grafton vs Middlesex vs Worcester
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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Middlesex | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
1,943Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Worcester 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Middlesex and Grafton 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.