Compare towns
Grafton vs Waltham 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%).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Waltham | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666 |
452Lowest |
1,066Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4 37% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
56.2±8.7Lowest 30% above VT |
| Waltham and Grafton 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% |
12.8%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Waltham and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2 VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,200±$85kHighest 8% above VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Grafton and Waltham 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 |
$1,096±$113 11% below VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
| Grafton and Waltham 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 |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham 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 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.