Compare towns
Middlesex vs Grafton vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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.
| Measure | Middlesex | Grafton | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Highest |
666Lowest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
55.6±9.6 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 | 21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$76,111±$7kLowest 6% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Middlesex and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,288±$174 4% above VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
| Middlesex and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,843Lowest 4% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 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 | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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 | 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.