Compare towns
Grafton vs Williston 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%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Fairlee 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,288±$174 4% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843Lowest 4% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 4% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Grafton 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 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 |
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.