Compare towns
Windham vs Castleton vs Bolton vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Bolton has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Windham | Castleton | Bolton | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,163 |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±4 VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
| Bolton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$311,600±$42k about the VT average |
$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 | — | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,299±$273Highest 5% above VT |
$1,288±$174 4% above VT |
| Bolton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,826 4% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.6% VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Bolton and Windham 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.