Compare towns
Grafton vs Reading vs Stratton 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 most homeowners (89.9%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Reading | Stratton | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666 |
699 |
532Lowest |
1,066Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
| Stratton and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Stratton and Reading 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±$331 11% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
| Grafton and Stratton 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 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 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.