Compare towns
Townshend vs Putney 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Putney | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538 |
2,622Highest |
666Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below 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% |
15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$76,111±$7kLowest 6% below VT |
| Putney 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±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$343,200±$85kHighest 8% above VT |
| Grafton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,843Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 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.