What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has the most people working from home (15.8%).

Waterville has the most kids (20.4% 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	Waterville
People
Population	666Lowest	680Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT	49.1±8.2Lowest 14% above VT
	Grafton and Waterville 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%	20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4%	14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.4%Highest VT: 43.8%	32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.1%±5Highest VT: 7%	5.3%±3.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Grafton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,111±$7kHighest 6% below VT	$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT
	Grafton and Waterville 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	$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT	$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT
	Grafton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,843Highest 4% below VT	$3,957Lowest 21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4%	44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Grafton and Waterville 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%	4.9%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 4% above VT	38 minHighest 60% above VT
Work from home	15.8%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9%	8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Grafton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Athens Grafton School District	Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A
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.