Compare towns
Waltham vs Plainfield 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 highest household income ($98k).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Grafton has the most homeowners (89.9%).
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 | Plainfield | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
1,314Highest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
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% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$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±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Grafton 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.