Compare towns
Townshend vs Jay vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townshend has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Grafton has the most expensive homes ($343k 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 | Townshend | Jay | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
471Lowest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
52.1±10.5Lowest 21% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% 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 | 12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% 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 | $287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$343,200±$85kHighest 8% above VT |
| Grafton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
— | $1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 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 | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1 |
— | — |
| 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.