Compare towns
Grafton vs Ripton vs Williston vs Windham
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).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Ripton | Williston | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666 |
508Lowest |
10,144Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Grafton and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Windham 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% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Ripton 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% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,111±$7kLowest 6% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Ripton and Williston 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 |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Williston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,288±$174Lowest 4% above VT |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843Lowest 4% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| 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.