Compare towns
Grafton vs Old Bennington vs Fairlee
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).
Old Bennington has the most people working from home (46.7%).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Old Bennington | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666 |
182Lowest |
1,066Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
45±21.3Lowest 4% above VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
| Grafton and Fairlee 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% |
22.5%±12Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Old Bennington and Fairlee 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% |
30.8%±8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Fairlee 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% |
84.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
0%±7.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Fairlee 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 |
$168,750±$53kHighest 108% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$445,500±$105kHighest 41% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Old Bennington 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 |
$1,063±$1kLowest 14% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Grafton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843Lowest 4% below VT |
$8,690Highest 72% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Grafton 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
46.7%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.