Compare towns
Windham vs Castleton vs Dorset vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
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 | Dorset | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,092 |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Castleton 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%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 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% |
72.1%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% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
| Dorset 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±$20k 12% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,288±$174 4% above VT |
| Dorset and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Castleton 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% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 14% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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.