What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has the most expensive homes ($343k median).

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.

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

Measure	Grafton	Townshend
People
Population	666Lowest	1,538Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT	55.6±9.6Lowest 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%	12%±2.6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Townshend and Grafton 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%	19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%	52.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.1%±5Highest VT: 7%	1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7%
	Grafton and Townshend 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	$78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT
	Townshend 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±$85kHighest 8% above VT	$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT
	Grafton and Townshend 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	$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT
	Grafton and Townshend 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	$5,364Highest 6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±69.4Lowest VT: 48.4%	72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4%
	Townshend 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%	8.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 4% above VT	25 minHighest 6% above VT
Work from home	15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9%	28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Townshend 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	West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town	None in town	Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.1
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.