What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has the shortest commute (24 min average).

Reading has the most kids (18.5% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Grafton	Reading
People
Population	666Lowest	699Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT	51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT
	Grafton and Reading 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%	18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4%	28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.4%Highest VT: 43.8%	46%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.1%±5Highest VT: 7%	3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7%
	Grafton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,111±$7kLowest 6% below VT	$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT
	Reading 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±$85kLowest 8% above VT	$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT
	Reading 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	$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT
	Grafton and Reading 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	$5,754Highest 14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±69.4Lowest VT: 48.4%	63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4%
	Reading and Grafton 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%	8.4%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT	1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 4% above VT	33 minHighest 41% above VT
Work from home	15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9%	22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9%
	Reading and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Athens Grafton School District	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.