Compare towns
Townshend vs Jay vs Windham 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 people working from home (28%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | Windham | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
471Lowest |
594 |
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±10.5 21% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
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%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Jay 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% |
23.2%±8.1 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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±$29k 3% below VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
| Windham and Townshend 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 |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
| Windham and Grafton 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 | $5,364 6% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above 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% |
41.2%±94 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% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%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% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 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 |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 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 | 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.