Compare towns
Grafton vs Plainfield vs Middlesex vs Townshend
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).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Plainfield | Middlesex | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666Lowest |
1,314 |
1,943Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
| Grafton and Townshend 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Middlesex 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 |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Middlesex and Townshend 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% 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 |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Townshend 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.