Compare towns
Waltham vs Highgate vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
Grafton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Waltham | Highgate | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
3,528Highest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
59.2±4.4 37% above VT |
| Waltham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$76,111±$7kLowest 6% below VT |
| Waltham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$343,200±$85kHighest 8% above VT |
| Grafton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113 11% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham and Grafton 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.