Compare towns
Townshend vs Sandgate 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).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
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 | Sandgate | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
435Lowest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Lowest 29% above VT |
55.7±5.4 29% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Grafton and Sandgate 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% |
13.1%±7.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sandgate and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Sandgate 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 |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% 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 |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% 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 |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±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% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Townshend 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 | — | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — | 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.